The Greensboro Police Department (GPD) announced Sunday that a North Carolina police officer was shot and killed while off-duty while trying to stop a crime in progress.
GPD Chief John Thompson said Phillip Dale Nix, a 23-year veteran of the force, was at the Sheetz gas station in Colfax around 4 p.m. on Saturday when he “observed a crime occurring.” Stated. statement.
“The officer approached the suspects and was subsequently shot,” he said. “Another off-duty Greensboro police officer and a Guilford County paramedic arrived on scene and immediately rendered aid.”
The injured sergeant was taken to a local medical facility, where he succumbed to his injuries, Thompson said, adding that Nix was a “loving husband, father, son and brother.” added.
GPD said in a press release Sunday that suspects Jamia Justice Foster, 18, Zukria Rupias Blackwell, 18, and John Walter Morrison, 28, have been arrested in connection with Nix's death. announced that three suspects have been arrested.
Chief Thompson's press statement tonight: Thank you for being here. Thank you to Mayor Vaughn for joining us…
Contributor greensboro police department upon Saturday, December 30, 2023
“Foster was charged with first-degree murder, theft, and conspiracy to commit theft and is being held without bail,” police said in a statement. “Blackwell was subsequently charged with aiding and abetting first-degree murder and is being held on $500,000 bail.”
Mr. Morrison, the oldest, is charged with first-degree murder, theft and accessory after the fact to conspiracy to commit theft. He is also being held without bond.
The police department added, “Additional charges may arise as the investigation progresses.''
GPD confirmed that the Winston-Salem Police Department assisted in the arrest of the suspect.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper expressed his condolences and expressed support for tracking down the suspect before he is arrested.
“I spoke with Greensboro Police Chief Thompson earlier this evening and offered to provide all available state resources to catch the people who killed Greensboro police officers,” Cooper wrote to X. Every effort must be made to arrest those responsible and bring justice to this tragic situation. ”
I spoke with Chief Thompson of the Greensboro Police Department earlier this evening and suggested that we use all available state resources to catch the person who killed the Greensboro police officer. Our prayers are with the Greensboro Police Department, his family, and his loved ones. Every effort must be made to arrest them…
— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) December 31, 2023
Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughn also released a heartfelt statement on social media platforms.
“Today we lost one of them. [our] They subject themselves to senseless acts of violence. My deepest condolences to his family and the extended family at GPD,” she wrote. “This will be felt for a long time. The impact he had on our community cannot be overstated. We thank the agencies that assisted in this investigation.”
Today we lost one of our own to a senseless act of violence. My deepest condolences to his family and his GPD relatives. This will be felt for a long time. His impact on our community cannot be overstated. We would like to thank all the institutions that participated in this research. pic.twitter.com/w6BCxotYUB
— Mayor Nancy Vaughan (@VaughanNancy) December 31, 2023
