Man shot by deputies had crossbow and ‘3-pronged martial arts’ knife, NC cops say

An episodic standoff turned fatal in eastern North Carolina when deputies shot a man who threatened them first with a martial arts sai knife and later with a loaded crossbow, according to investigators.

Timothy Glenn Gaskill Jr. was killed in his home around 10 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, after refusing to drop his crossbow, the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office said in a Nov. 5 news release.

It happened in the unincorporated Stacy community, and the initial 911 call reported a man in camouflage was standing in someone’s yard, “possibly armed with a shotgun,” the sheriff’s office said.

“It was reported that the suspect busted one of the windows of the residence,” officials said.

The suspect was gone when deputies arrived, but he was identified by witnesses and tracked down at his home, officials said.

“An attempt to speak with him resulted in two deputies having their lives threatened with a sai, which is a deadly three-pronged martial arts weapon. Deputies attempted to de-escalate the situation by exiting the residence,” the sheriff’s office said.

“After a period of time, deputies again attempted to go inside and speak with Gaskill. Once again, Gaskill threatened the deputies with the same weapon and they once more exited.”

A Special Response Team returned after 9 p.m. with a warrant for Gaskill’s arrest, charging him with “felonious assault on law enforcement officer and damage to property,” the sheriff’s office said.

“Gaskill’s behavior became increasingly erratic and aggressive, filled with threats to the negotiator and other team members,” officials said.

“The SRT then deployed non-lethal gas in an effort to encourage Gaskill to comply ... Gaskill responded by pointing the loaded crossbow at team members, who fired upon him.”

He died at the scene, officials said.

It marked the first time the Special Response Team resorted to deadly force after nearly “80 call-outs” in 10 years, the sheriff’s office said.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent review of the shooting and will present its findings to the District Attorney’s Office, the sheriff’s office said.

Stacy is about a 170-mile drive southeast from Raleigh.