Wake deputy shot with AK-47 assault rifle during eviction in Raleigh, sheriff says

A veteran Wake County sheriff’s deputy was shot with an AK-47 assault rifle Wednesday morning while serving an eviction notice at a Raleigh apartment complex, Sheriff Gerald Baker said.

Sgt. Ronald Waller underwent surgery Wednesday afternoon at WakeMed, Baker said at a news conference at the hospital. Waller, who was starting the “long road of recovery” Wednesday night, has worked for the sheriff’s office for over 20 years, agency spokesman Eric Curry said in an email update.

The shooting occurred on Torquay Crossing in the River Birch at Town Center Apartments on Old Wake Forest Road.

A suspect, Eddie Dewain Craig, 32, was taken into custody, Baker said. Craig was charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to kill, three counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm and assault With a dangerous weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, according to Raleigh police.

Curry said two other deputies were in the area when Waller was shot. Raleigh police officers removed him from the scene within minutes of the shooting, the department said.

Craig is also charged with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

Radio traffic recorded on the Broadcastify website said Waller suffered injuries to the left femoral artery and right leg. The femoral artery supplies blood to the thigh and leg.

‘Most dangerous job’

Waller approached a door at the apartment complex around 10:13 a.m. Wednesday to serve civil papers, according to Baker and Curry. Civil papers can include eviction notices or summonses to court.

“It is perhaps one of the most dangerous jobs that you are going to find in law enforcement,” Baker said. “You never know what’s going to be on the other side of that door when it opens.”

In 2020, a sheriff’s deputy in South Carolina was fatally shot while serving an eviction notice, the Associated Press reported.

Waller knocked on the door but no one answered, Baker continued.

He left to serve other summonses and then stopped by the door again, which was partly open, Baker said.

The deputy identified himself, Baker said, and the man tried to shut the door. Waller tried to stop him.

“At that point gunfire came from inside of that apartment and struck one of our officers twice,” Baker said. “A call for help came in at that point, and we had officers responding from all over the city.”

In response to a question at the news conference, Baker said he did not think Waller had been issued a body camera.

The Raleigh Police Department, which is investigating the shooting, responded around 10:15 a.m., said Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown.

Police put Waller in a police vehicle and started to take him off the property. Emergency Medical Services personnel took him to WakeMed.

Dr. Chuck Harr, WakeMed’s chief medical officer, said a team was waiting for the deputy “and sprang into action.”

“That action has been decisive. It is ongoing and will continue until all danger has passed,” Harr said.

Meanwhile, the suspect, who remains in the Wake County jail, surrendered to police without incident, Baker said.

Emotional moment

Baker fought back tears as he thanked Wake County EMS.

“They were there,” he said, pausing to control his emotions. “These things make me angry, so this is how I show it. Excuse me.”

The sheriff asked for the public’s prayers and support.

“This job is not easy,” he said.

They do it though because they love it and want to keep Wake County residents safe, Baker said.

“We put our lives on the line to make sure that that happens,” he said.

This story was originally published June 2, 2021 at 10:56 AM.