June 30--ROANOKE RAPIDS -- A local man died late Friday after being shot by a State Highway Patrol trooper at whom he had pointed a loaded handgun during a traffic stop outside the city, Highway Patrol officials said Saturday.
Trooper Matt W. Pitman suspected the driver of a car on U.S. Hwy. 158 was impaired and pulled the car over about 10:30 p.m., Highway Patrol spokesman First Sgt. Jeff Gordon said. Pitman smelled "a strong odor of alcohol" and ordered the driver, James Russell Moore, 64, of 1489 N.C. Hwy. 903, Roanoke Rapids, to get out of the car, Gordon said.
As investigators reconstructed events, Pitman was in the process of checking Moore's condition further. Officers frequently administer field sobriety tests to drivers they suspect of being under the influence of alcohol.
Pitman asked Moore if he had any weapons, another common precaution police take, and was told he had a gun in a pocket, Gordon said.
Pitman, who was alone during the traffic stop, ordered Moore several times to lay on the ground and not to move his hands toward the pocket where the gun was, Gordon said. Moore instead pulled out the gun, which turned out to be loaded, and pointed it at Pitman, according to the Highway Patrol's account.
Pitman drew his gun and shot Moore, and he was pronounced dead at Halifax Regional Medical Center, Gordon said.
The State Bureau of Investigation is handling the case, which is standard procedure any time a police officer shoots someone. Also standard procedure, Pitman has been placed on administrative duty until the investigation is closed.
Copyright 2012 - The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.
