HICKORY, NC — Officials have released more information on the man who was fatally shot by a Catawba County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigator Monday afternoon.
According to officials, Ray Valentine, 41, was involved in another officer involved shooting with Hickory Police back in December 2011. That incident began when a Hickory police officer attempted to pull Valentine over for a traffic stop around 10:10pm and Valentine took off. Reports say that Valentine led the officer on a high speed chase through a neighborhood, field, and eventually onto 11th Street SW where he lost control and flipped his vehicle.
Officials say when Valentine got out of the SUV he led the officer on a brief foot chase before stopping behind a house. The reports say Valentine then charged at the officer after repeated commands to remove his hands from his pockets, and the officer was forced to shoot.
Following an investigation into the incident, the officer was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing and Valentine pleaded guilty to all charges related to the incident. No civil action was filed.
On Monday afternoon, Valentine was involved in yet another deputy involved shooting.
The incident happened Monday around 4:15pm on 15th Street NE. Officials say deputies were conducting a narcotics investigation in the area when they came in contact with Valentine. When deputies approached him, Valentine attempted to flee the area his vehicle. During this attempt, officials say Valentine hit one of the cruisers causing heavy damage. It was after this incident that a narcotics deputy fatally fired on Valentine.
Valentine was taken to Fry Regional Medical Center where he later died from his injuries.
The State Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating the shooting, as is standard procedure with officer involved incidents, and say that members of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office are fully cooperating with the investigation.
Officials say the name of the deputy involved will not be released pending further investigation.
Anyone with information about the 15th Street NE shooting should contact the SBI’s Northwestern District at 828-294-2226.
