A Robeson County detective is recovering after he was shot while serving a search warrant Thursday, according to Sheriff Burnis Wilkins. The sheriff’s office said deputies arrested two people in the raid.

Detective Kevin Chavis was part of a SWAT team that searched a house near Pembroke, North Carolina, just after 1 p.m. Thursday. He was hospitalized with serious injuries after the shooting, the sheriff said. 


What You Need To Know

  • Robeson County Detective Kevin Chavis is recovering after he was shot Thursday afternoon 

  • The detective was seriously injured while serving a search warrant near Pembroke, North Carolina 

  • Deputies arrested two people after the shooting

  • Neither suspect was injured

“This kind of violence against a law enforcement officer is very disturbing,” Wilkins said in a statement Thursday. “We will not stop at bringing those to justice that continue to wreak havoc on our communities.”

Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said Kendall Deese shot at deputies as they served a search warrant Thursday. (Robeson County Sheriff's Office)

Deputies charged Kendall Ray Deese, 25, with three counts of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm, one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, along with several drug charges. 

Tina Locklear, 53, was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, felony conspiracy and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Neither Deese, nor Locklear were injured, the sheriff said. They face a $15 million bond. 

The sheriff said Chavis was working with the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Division and the SWAT team when they served a search warrant at 2506 Evergreen Church Rd. in Pembroke, North Carolina. 

Deputies announced themselves and had their sirens going before they went into the home, the sheriff said. He said there were several people in the house. 

When the SWAT team went into a bedroom, a suspect fired “multiple shots,” according to the sheriff. Chavis was shot in the abdomen, Wilkins said. He said the deputies shot back, but did not injure Deese.

Chavis is recovering from serious injuries, the sheriff said.