Shots fired during confrontation

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer responding to an armed robbery call at a South Boulevard business got into a confrontation with the robbery suspect, who is now in the hospital recovering from serious injuries.

“Shots were fired,” said CMPD spokeswoman Julie Hill.  Hill said Sunday night it was too early to tell what led to the gunfire.  Detectives are also investigating whether just the officer, or both the officer and the suspect, fired a gun.

The robbery call came from the Dollar Tree in the 5400 block of South Boulevard, across the street from the new Tyvola light rail station.

The store’s acting manager said a man with a gun tied up both employees in the store during the robbery.

One of the employees managed to free herself and dial 911.  

Shayla Brown, the acting manager, said she believes the suspect was delayed because he tied up the second employee, and that allowed officers time to get to the store.

The confrontation occurred in the shopping center’s side parking lot, less than 50 feet from the Dollar Tree.

Hill said an investigation will determine what events led to the officer drawing his gun and firing. 

Police have not released the names of the officer or the suspect, but Chief Darrel Stephens said the officer was taken to the hospital for a minor injury.

Hill said the officer injured his hand, but the injury was not caused by a gunshot.

Officers are also investigating an alarm that went off at the Edwin Watts Golf store across the street, just one minute before police were called to the Dollar Tree.

Hill said detectives believe the two calls might be related.