Michael Rose Obituary, Death – A man was fatally shot during a confrontation with law enforcement in Catawba County early Tuesday morning, according to the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred just after 1 a.m. at a residence on Rifle Range Road, where deputies responded to reports of a man threatening self-harm with a firearm.
The individual was identified as Michael Rose. Deputies initially arrived at the home Monday night and safely assisted an elderly woman in leaving the residence. The situation then escalated, prompting the involvement of the Catawba County Special Tactics and Response (STAR) and crisis intervention teams. Authorities were attempting to de-escalate the situation and planned to transport Rose to a hospital for help.
While officers were still negotiating with Rose, they reported hearing a gunshot and observed smoke emerging from the house. Members of the STAR Team entered the home in an effort to rescue Rose. During their entry, Rose allegedly fired at the officers, who returned fire, resulting in his death.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is now conducting an independent investigation into the incident, which marks the third officer-involved shooting in the state since Sunday. On Sunday morning, a 16-year-old was shot by police in Durham, and later that night, police fatally shot a man during a reported break-in in Winston-Salem.
The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office has not released additional details, and the investigation into the circumstances of Rose’s death remains ongoing.