Five people are dead including two police officers, following a standoff at the home of George and Michelle Ligon, 553 Hardaman Circle in Boone on Wednesday, April 28th.
Watauga County Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Ward and K-9 Deputy Logan Fox were dispatched to a home in Boone at 9:44 a.m. Wednesday after the homeowner and his family didn’t report to work or answer telephone calls. The officers were hit by gunfire after entering the home, and while Ward was “extracted from the scene,” Fox remained inside, the statement said.
Watauga County Sheriff Hagaman said that a Boone Police officer, a Boone firefighter and an Appalachian State University police officer were shot at during an initial attempt to rescue the deputies, and the Boone police officer was hit, but he escaped injury due to his Kevlar helmet equipment.
K-9 Deputy Logan Fox died at the scene. Sgt. Chris Ward died after being flown to Johnson City Medical Center for treatment. Later the suspect, Isaac Barnes and his mother and step-father were all found dead.
Law enforcement agencies supporting the Watauga County Sheriff’s Department at the scene included: Appalachian State University’s Police, Avery County Sheriff’s Office, Beech Mountain Police, Blowing Rock Police, Boone Police, Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Hickory Police, Morganton Public Safety, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office, West Jefferson Police and Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office.
Watauga County Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Ward leaves behind a wife and two children. Back the Blue NC has set up a GoFundMe to help support his family.
