Police have identified the two officers involved in a shooting earlier this week in southeast Fayetteville.
Officer Kyle Jeney shot Joshua Myers, 31, in the leg after responding to a suicide threat on South Splash Drive at about 7 p.m. Monday, according to separate news releases from the Fayetteville Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Each department is conducting its own investigation of the incident.
Officer Jeney was with a second officer who was identified as Wyatt Rublee. The two officers went to the front door of the residence after a caller told dispatchers that Myers was suicidal and had taken a large amount of seizure medication.
When there was no response at the front door, the two officers walked around the side of the home and saw Myers holding what appeared to be a black and brown rifle, according to the releases.
Officials earlier said Myers pointed the gun at Officer Rublee’s head, and when Rublee attempted to run to cover he stumbled and fell to the ground. That’s when Officer Jeney said he witnessed Myers advancing on Rublee, so he shot Myers in the leg.
The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that report and said Jeney fired a total of two rounds, one of which struck Myers in the left thigh.
The officers secured Myers with handcuffs, moved the gun away from him, and rendered first aid with a tourniquet until other units and paramedics arrived on scene, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
It was later determined that Myers’ gun was a Tippman 98 paintball rifle.
Myers was transported to Washington Regional Medical Center where he is currently being treated. Police said his wound is not expected to be life threatening, and there were no injuries to the officers.
The Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday released a portion of the body cam footage obtained from one of the officers (see above or click here).
Jeney, who has been with the department for 3 1/2 years, has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues. Rublee has been with the department for 1 1/2 years.
