Sheriff's Deputy Shot & Killed in Greene County

I was called by my News Director last night at 9pm, a Sheriff’s Deputy had been shot and killed in Greene County while responding to a call; she needed me to head to the scene.

I jumped out of my pajamas and back into my work clothes, grabbed my camera, and rushed out the door.

While on the road, I started to learn more about the story. According to authorities the Deputy was responding to a domestic disturbance call when he was shot and killed by the homeowner, the gunman then shot and killed himself.

We had no idea where the shooting happened, just that it was somewhere near Snow Hill. I was driving down a pitch black highway and knew I was never going to find the scene of the crime without some help. So, I stopped at the local gas station heading into town and asked customers walking in if they had heard anything. Of course, they had. Someone pointed me in the right direction because 5 minutes later I spotted a squad car and quickly sped up to follow where it was going.

By that times it was 10pm, 60 minutes before air time and I needed to come up with some information. Since authorities weren’t providing much, I turned to neighbors for answers and quickly learned they knew exactly what had happened and were willing to talk.

During the 11pm newscast we had team coverage. The normal night side reporter handled the nuts and bolts of the situation and I nabbed a live interview with one of those neighbors who lived across the street from where the shooting happened and was friends with the gunman.

I didn’t get home until 1am, that’s when I actually had a chance to grasp the tragedy that had unfolded. The Deputy, like I had, was simply doing his job. He took a phone call from his superior, like I had and responded to a situation, just like I did. The difference is I got to come home and crawl into bed that night.

That deputy, John Willis, leaves behind a wife and two young children.