A New Hanover County Sheriff's deputy who was involved in the shooting death of Durham native Peyton Strickland was fired Friday.

In a short statement, Sheriff Sid Causey announced the dismissal of Cpl. Christopher Long, one of three deputies who had been placed on paid leave while the State Bureau of Investigation was investigating the Dec. 1 shooting of Strickland, a Cape Fear Community College student. But Causey stated that the reason for Long's firing was not a public record, and that he would not discuss the status of the SBI investigation.

Long, 34, was with the Emergency Response Team that supported UNC-Wilmington campus police, who were executing a search warrant on a house Strickland and his roommates were renting in Wilmington. Strickland and two friends, Braden Riley and Ryan Mills, were accused of beating Justin Raines, a UNCW student from Apex, and robbing him of two Sony PlayStation 3 video-game consoles worth more than $600 each. UNCW police expected a "high risk" situation, in part because of Internet photos showing Mills posing with guns, and had requested help from the Sheriff's Office to secure the house.

The heavily armed Emergency Response Team handles situations considered high-risk. Strickland was unarmed when he was shot; his roommate Mike Rhoton has said Strickland might have been carrying a video-game controller when he went to answer the door.

Strickland was shot in the head and chest and died later at a hospital. His dog, Blaze, was also killed. Strickland's funeral was held Wednesday.

The bullet that struck him in the head and killed him probably was fired through the front door, said Charles L. Garrett of the state medical examiner's office, who performed an autopsy.

Students out on bail

Causey has said that he didn't know whether the door was shut, partially open or completely open when the deputies fired but that they had knocked and announced their presence first. He did not return phone calls seeking comment Friday night.

Also on paid leave from the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office were Detective Larry Robinson and Sgt. Greg Johnson.

Riley, 21, a Cape Fear Community College student from Apex, was freed on $30,000 bond after a court appearance Tuesday. Mills, 20, a UNCW student from Durham, was arrested a week ago and released on bail, authorities said. Both have pleaded not guilty to robbery and assault charges and have a District Court hearing scheduled for Jan. 4.

UNCW campus police had gone to Strickland's house at 553 Long Leaf Acres Drive in Wilmington because they were investigating the thefts and the assault on Justin Raines, the UNCW student who said the consoles had been stolen from him. Concerned that someone in the house might have been armed, the campus police enlisted the sheriff's office's Emergency Response Team -- similar to a SWAT unit -- to help with the search.

Instead, Strickland was shot twice through the front door.

Strickland's family declined to comment until after a grand jury meeting Monday. District Attorney Ben David could not be reached.

Long shot two teenage drug dealers during a February 2001 traffic stop; neither was killed. At the time, he told investigators that the driver, Gregory Donnell Miller, was trying to run over him. Miller denied it. No charges were brought against Long. Miller was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer.

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.