MAIDEN, N.C. -- The Catawba County Sheriff's Office said Thursday they helped U.S. Marshals serve an outstanding warrant for Buddy Weeks at a home on Saddleview Court in Maiden, which resulted in his death.
Adam Cooper, who lives at the home, said he was woken up to the commotion around 10 a.m.
“We were just home sleeping, and I woke up to them busting down the door with guns in our face. I got up, and they were in the doors. They said, 'U.S. Marshal, everybody down.' They brought us outside and detained us,” Cooper said.
U.S. Marshals detained several people who were inside the home, but none of them were Weeks.
Deputies obtained a search warrant for the home and eventually discovered Weeks was in the crawlspace.
When he emerged, Captain Aaron Turk says Weeks was armed with a gun and knife and began threatening officers. Authorities say U.S. Marshals had already confirmed prior statements by Weeks saying he intended to harm law enforcement if any attempts were made to aprehend him.
Deputies tried to de-escalate the situation, and "repeated attempts were made to encourage Weeks to disarm and surrender", according to a release.
Officials say gas munitions were deployed during the incident and the suspect retreated back into the home through the front door.
Weeks reemerged with a rifle a short time later and again threatened deputies.
De-escalation efforts were tried again, without success, resulting in Weeks being fatally shot by a U.S. Marshal.
Authorities say Weeks was wanted on outstanding warrants across four counties for three counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of larcent of a motor vehicle, felony breaking and entering, larceny of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, and felonious possession of stolen goods.
The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident, and the Catawba County Sheriff's Office says an Internal Affairs investigation is also being conducted.