Body Cam Footage Released Of Deadly 2017 Officer-Involved Shooting Of Armed Man At Huntersville Hospital
The Latest
Huntersville Police Department has released body camera video from the fatal September 2017 officer-involved shooting of a Florida Hurricane Irma evacuee at Novant Health Huntersville.
WARNING: This video contains graphic violence and explicit language.
The Latest (Dec. 14, 2017)
Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather III says no charges will be filed against the officers who killed an armed man inside a Huntersville, North Carolina Hospital in September.
In a report, Merriweather says Officers Michael Joseph and Travis Watts acted within the law when they shot 76-year-old Joseph Cook inside Novant Health Huntersville on September 11, 2017.
Cook was a Hurricane Irma evacuee receiving treatment for several health issues. He fired two shots in his hospital room, but no one was injured.
Reports indicate he also pointed his gun at officers before being shot and killed.
Original Story
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Police have identified the parties involved in a fatal officer involved shooting at Novant Health Huntersville Sunday night.
Officers say they were called shortly before midnight to reports of a man firing several shots. According to police, Officers Michael Joseph and Travis Watts found 76-year-old Joseph Cook inside the hospital.
Officials say the officers felt threatened and fired shots at Cook. Cook was pronounced dead on the scene.
Police say Cook was traveling from Deland, FL to New York as part of the evacuations for Hurricane Irma.
The S.B.I. is investigating and for now the officers involved are on paid administrative leave. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call 980-781-3000 to speak with an SBI agent.
A Monday a spokeperson for Novant Health issued the following statement on the incident:
“We can confirm there was a shooting at Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center resulting in the death of an individual. Without a doubt, this is a tragic situation. Our hearts and prayers go out to the loved ones of this individual and also to our team members and patients who were in the area when shots were fired. We are thankful for the quick response of the Huntersville Police Department who came to ensure the safety of our patients and team members.
At Novant Health the safety of our patients and team members is at the forefront of everything that we do. We have plans and processes in place to respond to emergencies at our facilities, including on-site security. The emergency procedures were followed at Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center today. Our team did everything they were trained to do to deescalate a volatile situation and keep our patients, their families and friends, and Novant Health team members safe.
This is the type of situation that we hope will never occur, but why we train on a regular basis. Our all-hazards approach includes training and drills for things such as severe weather, fire, acts of violence, and response to mass casualty incidents. For example, in the past week our team prepped for the potential impact of Irma and stands ready to assist in the aftermath if needed.”
