| February 27, 2008 |
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| UPDATE: Jonas Ridge Murder
Suspect Captured |
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Authorities captured
murder suspect Darrell Wayne Buchanan this morning, after the man reportedly
talked to Burke negotiators for a few hours by phone while barricaded inside
his ex-wife's mobile home.
Buchanan emerged from the trailer at
approximately 11:50 AM, according to Burke County Sheriff John T. McDevitt and
surrendered to SWAT officers. The man agreed to surrender when he was told an
officer he knew would be present. |
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| According to McDevitt,
Buchanan, (above, right) had a bullet wound and
possibly two to his left arm. He is believed to have sustained the injuries
during the previous night's domestic disturbance. |
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| At this point, we don't
know how he received the bullet wounds," McDevitt said. "We know that it didn't
come from any law enforcement officers." |
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| Buchanan will be taken
to the hospital for treatment of the injuries, and then will be facing murder
charges, McDevitt said. |
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Law enforcement officers
from across the Piedmont searched for Buchanan throughout the night. He is
accused of killing his ex-wife's boyfriend on Tuesday night, and then shooting
at an Avery County deputy who was arriving on the scene.
Buchanan, 47,
of 157 Baldview Mountain Lane, Newland, reportedly ran into the woods with a
rifle shortly after deputies arrived to discover Thurman Ray Hudson, 49, lying
dead or injured on the porch of his residence. |
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| McDevitt said
that authorities received a 911 call last night from 6775 Highway 183,
Jonas Ridge, in which a heated domestic was taking place. |
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| A few minutes later,
Burke County Emergency Services dispatched an ambulance to the residence
because someone was reportedly shot or stabbed. |
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| Burke County
telecommunicators requested the Avery County Sheriff's Office to assist a Burke
County deputy who was responding to the call, the Sheriff said. |
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| Burke County Detective
Lt. Becky Brendle stated that when Avery County Sgt. Mike Ellenburg arrived on
the scene, he was flagged down by a woman driving a Jeep. The woman, later
identified as Lola Mae Carpenter Buchanan, 40, was accompanied by Darrell
Buchanan, her ex-husband, in the passenger seat. |
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| "She screamed to the
deputy, 'He's going to kill me!'" Brendle said, and the deputy saw Buchanan
holding a long rifle. "The woman told Sgt. Ellenburg that the man would kill
him, too, and Ellenburg saw Buchanan point the rifle at him" |
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| Ellenburg attempted to
drive away for cover, and heard one shot, Brendle said. As the deputy attempted
to turn his patrol car around and pursue the Jeep, he allegedly saw Darrell
Buchanan exit the passenger side of the vehicle and fire several shots into his
patrol car. |
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| Ellenburg was not hit,
but was slightly injured from glass as bullets penetrated the rear window and
struck other objects inside the vehicle, Brendle stated. It was unclear how
many shots penetrated the patrol vehicle. |
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| Darrell Buchanan got
back into the Jeep and Lola Buchanan pulled into her driveway, according to
Brendle. Ellenburg, along with Burke County Deputy Scott Bray who arrived on
the scene, followed the Jeep. |
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| "That's when Darrell
Buchanan ran behind the mobile home with the rifle," Brendle said. |
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| Two 11-year old boys
were in the yard as Ellenburg and Bray arrived, and were yelling "He shot him!
He shot him"," Brendle said. The two deputies then saw Hudson lying on the
porch. |
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| The deputies moved Lola
Buchanan, the two boys, and Hudson from the scene to protect them, and other
officers began arriving to assist, Brendle said. Brendle said the two twins
were identified later as Hudson's children. |
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| Thurman Hudson was
pronounced dead a short time later, Brendle stated. |
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| SWAT teams and officers
from surrounding agencies including Burke, Morganton, Hickory, Avery County,
Banner Elk, Seven Devils converged on the scene, and a command post was set up
nearby. |
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| Buchanan was considered
extremely dangerous prior to his capture, according to McDevitt. He was
released from prison on July 5, 2007 after spending a year incarcerated for
assault with a deadly weapon on government officers, and speeding to elude
arrest. Those offenses occurred in Avery County. |
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| Court records also show
convictions in 1985 for selling a schedule VI drug, resisting arrest, and
DWI. |
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| Additionally, he was
served warrants on November 26th for communicating threats, making harrassing
phone calls, and violating a domestic violence order taken out by his
ex-wife. |
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| The murder warrant will
be served on Buchanan upon his release from the hospital, a detective said, and
a first court appearance date will be set. He is facing numerous other
charges which may include kidnapping, and assault on an officer with a deadly
weapon. |
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