ALBEMARLE, NC — Police say a man who opened fire on officers with an assault rifle and then barricaded himself in his home was found dead inside from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The incident began Tuesday evening when officers received a request for assistance call from Cabarrus County in relation to an incident that occurred near the Cabarrus and Mecklenburg County line. Officers were looking for Robert Baucom, who was believed to be at his home on Snotherly Street in Albemarle.
While looking around the residence, police say Baucom passed by in his truck and was stopped several blocks down. Baucom then took off during the stop, according to officials, and led police on a chase through town.
Baucom eventually led officers back to his home where he got out with what is believed to have been an AR-15 and ran inside his house. Police say he then began firing at officers who were forced to take cover behind their patrol cars. According to reports, Baucom put at least 34 bullet holes in three patrol cars outside his home but no injuries were reported.
After barricading himself inside for nearly five hours, law enforcement used a robot to enter the home as a precaution and found Baucom dead from an apparent suicide.
The SBI, Stanly and Union County Sheriff’s Offices all assisted in the incident.
