© 2024 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved.
Video shows moment North Carolina deputy was shot before returning fire during a traffic stop
Image source: WSOC-TV screenshot

Video shows moment North Carolina deputy was shot before returning fire during a traffic stop

A North Carolina sheriff's deputy was shot five times before returning fire and hitting a driver in February, newly released dashcam and body camera video shows.

Mecklenburg County sheriff’s deputy Dijon Whyms was shot on Feb. 19 in northeast Charlotte during a traffic stop, WSOC-TV reported.

Whyms had pulled over the suspect, Aidan Bryant, on Salome Church Road near Interstate 485 at around 4:15 p.m., the sheriff's office said.

In the dashcam video, Whyms can be seen exiting his patrol car and approaching the driver's side of Bryant's car.

Bodycam footage then shows Bryant firing multiple shots from his driver's-side window, hitting Whyms several times, Sheriff Gary McFadden said.

Whyms returned fire from the ground. The suspect started to drive away, but then the vehicle stopped and the driver got out.

“I think that he was going to come back and attempt to take my deputy’s life,” McFadden said.

Whyms kept firing his weapon, hitting Bryant, who retreated into his car and drove away.

Police, the Charlotte Fire Department, and paramedics were then called to the scene.

Whyms, 45, suffered three gunshot wounds in the upper body and was shot twice in his lower body, officials said. He was taken to a local hospital and treated for his injuries, which were non-life threatening. He was released weeks after the shooting, according to WSOC.

Bryant was taken to Mallard Creek Urgent Care and then transported to Atrium Health Main. He was arrested after receiving treatment for his injury.

He was charged with attempted first-degree murder and assault with a firearm on a law enforcement, probation, or parole officer, four counts of possession of a stolen firearm, and two counts of larceny of a firearm, according to the Charlotte Observer.

“We’re thankful for MEDIC,” McFadden said. “We’re thankful for CMPD. We’re thankful for highway patrol, especially the hospitals. They did exactly as they were trained to do.”

The sheriff was proud of the way his deputy handled the situation.

“All of (Whyms’) training kicked in,” McFadden said. “That’s one thing I’m proud of is how he handled himself. When you hear the audio, he’s calm. He’s not that excited.”

Whyms was placed on administrative leave while authorities investigated the shooting and is still recovering from his injuries.

McFadden said he hopes that Whyms will soon return to active duty.

“I want him to come back and have the conversation with the younger deputies to say, ‘This is why training is important,’ and ‘This is why I’m here today, because of my training,’” McFadden said.

Watch:

VIDEO: NC Deputy shot 5 times, returns fire and hits suspects who drives offyoutu.be

Want to leave a tip?

We answer to you. Help keep our content free of advertisers and big tech censorship by leaving a tip today.
Want to join the conversation?
Already a subscriber?