July 07, 2009

N.C. cop wounded in shootout saved by fellow officers

Editor's note: A local news station has reported that other Durham, N.C. officers have been donating blood to support their wounded brother in blue.

News & Observer

DURHAM, N.C. — A Durham police officer who was shot last week at a Shannon Road apartment complex was moved out of intensive care at Duke Hospital on Monday.

Officers were dispatched to a call about a disturbance with a weapon at 3300 Shannon Road, Apt. 5-A, shortly after 4 a.m. Thursday. The call was then upgraded to a possible break-in in progress.

As officers arrived, several shots were fired from inside the apartment. One struck officer D.J. Youmans in the abdomen between the bottom of his bulletproof vest and his gun belt.

Emergency medical services workers could not enter the area because of the possibility of more shots being fired, according to a Police Department news release. Three officers -- Cpl. T.D. Bobbitt, Officer D. Horton and Officer A. Brown -- rescued Youmans, placed him in the back of a patrol car and drove him to a nearby EMS vehicle.

"The other officers on the scene should be commended for the restraint they used in not returning fire not knowing who might be in the apartment," said Durham Police Chief Jose L. Lopez Sr. "I also want to commend the officers who gave attention to the injured officer while putting their own lives at risk."

Durham Fire Capt. Glenn Cooper, Fire Technician Cleve Sorrell and Firefighter Larry Perdue from Durham Engine 11 and EMTs Zane Jones and Chris Taylor from Parkwood Volunteer Fire Department treated Youmans and took him to Duke Hospital. Doctors used more than 60 units of blood during the emergency surgery.

Thomas Rashawn Monroe, 23, who lives in the apartment, has been charged with the shooting. He remained in the Durham County jail Friday in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Monroe's relatives said Friday that Monroe fired in self-defense. They said police did not identify themselves when they arrived and the family thought whoever had been shooting at the home earlier might still be outside. A preliminary investigation indicated police did identify themselves when they arrived, according to the department.