DENTON, N.C. — A deputy was shot in the leg, and a suspect was injured overnight in Davidson County, according to Town of Denton Mayor Larry Ward. 

At about 2 a.m., the Denton Fire Department warned residents to stay inside as the incident unfolded in a rural area about 20 miles southeast of Lexington, North Carolina.

“Very Active Situation ongoing in the area Ebel Rd and M H Dr. Avoid the area. Citizens in the area need to shelter in place and secure all doors and windows,” the fire department posted on Facebook. 

The mayor, who works part time in a gun store, said the suspect bought ammunition from him Wednesday morning. 

“He bought two boxes of bullets for an AR black gun. He said he was going to die soon,” Ward said in a phone interview with Spectrum News 1. Ward said the man told him he was sick with leukemia.

“He was very talkative. His wife did not say a word. I spoke to her, said good morning to her. She was like three feet away and did not answer, didn’t say a word,” the mayor said. “They were a little strange acting.” 

Spectrum News 1 has reached out to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office and the State Bureau of Investigation for more information about what happened.