A Murphy man was wounded in an officer-involved shooting Monday night during an incident that had "an armed suspect present and the potential for a hostage situation," according to a release by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.
Jason Harley Kloepfer, 41, has been charged with communicating threats, and resist, obstruct, and delay. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is now investigating the case.
Cherokee County E911 Communications received a call at about 11 p.m. Monday indicating a disturbance with several gun shots fired at 1790 Upper Bear Paw Rd. Cherokee County deputies arrived on scene at about 11:17 p.m. but were unable to make contact with the alleged shooter.
The sheriff's office obtained a search warrant and requested assistance from the Cherokee Indian Police Department SWAT team.
According to the release, the suspected shooter engaged in a verbal altercation with officers and emerged from a camper and confronted officers. Members of the Cherokee Indian Police SWAT Team fired at him, wounding him. The man was transported to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, Tenn., where he was last reported in stable condition.
Read the full story in the Dec. 21 edition of the Cherokee Scout.