A man wanted on multiple warrants fought with deputies and grabbed a gun before he was shot and killed Feb. 14, according to a statement released by Rowan County Sheriff Travis Allen. No deputies were hurt, he said.
The sheriff’s office tracked down Jordan Mays and another fugitive, Jeremy Brock, based on a tip from an informant, according to the sheriff’s office. Mays was on the “10 Most Wanted” list by the local probation office, Allen said.
“It is never our desire to be involved in a lethal, deadly force encounter. However, we are often forced into this outcome by those that would mean harm to others,” Allen said in the statement, offering condolences to Mays’ family.
Mays had warrants for his arrest in connection with failing to appear in court on charges of carrying a concealed weapon, possession of firearm by a felon, driving while license revoked and a probation violation, according to the sheriff’s office.
Allen said five deputies were involved in Tuesday’s effort to arrest the wanted men. The first, Brock, was found in a garage on the property at 138 Thriftwood Ct. and arrested without incident, he said.
The deputies found Mays with an unnamed woman in a bedroom of a single-wide trailer, according to the sheriff. Allen described a violent scene in the cramped trailer bedroom as Mays fought with deputies.
The deputies could see a handgun near Mays on a bedside table, Allen said, and he refused to put his hand up.
“Body camera video shows Deputy Adam Dyles going hands on with Jordan Mays. Deputy Dyles struggles with Mays on the bed and then into the floor of the small bedroom trying to secure Mays’ hands. Deputy Chase Safrit is also attempting to get to Jordan Mays but is hindered by the size of the small room and clutter around the bed,” Allen said in the statement.
A third deputy has an AR-15 rifle pointed at Mays from the doorway, he said.
“At this time, one of the Deputies yells for one of the others to ‘Tase him.’ Upon hearing this, Jordan Mays is able to come up off the floor/bed with Deputy Dyles still on his back,” Allen said.
Mays picked up the gun and turned toward the deputies, the sheriff said. Master Deputy Travis James fired what the sheriff’s office believes is five rounds from his rifle at close range, according to Allen. One of the rounds hit Mays in the head, he said.
The encounter lasted “only a few seconds,” the sheriff said.
The sheriff said deputies found three 9mm handguns in the bedroom, along with more than $3,000 in cash and what is described as a “large amount” of crystal meth.
The sheriff defended his deputies in the statement.
“After personally reviewing the body camera footage, it is obvious that our deputies encountered a deadly threat and used force that was necessary and reasonable to stop that threat,” he said. They tried first to arrest Mays without using deadly force, even though they saw a gun within reach," Allen said.
“The aggressive and deadly actions of Jordan Mays resulted in our deputies having to administer deadly and lethal force to protect themselves. Our deputies acted bravely in the face of a deadly threat encounter,” he said.
The sheriff’s office initially released very little information on the shooting death of Mays. The State Bureau of Investigations said it is investigating the shooting, which is standard protocol when deputies shoot someone.
The five deputies involved, Master Deputy Jessica Abrams, Master Deputy David Scott, Master Deputy Travis James, Master Deputy Chase Safrit and Master Deputy Adam Dyles, are on paid administrative leave as the SBI investigates.