Declan Meirion Owen, 24, Elizabethtown, died after being fired upon by a Bladen County Sheriff’s Office deputy and a Bladenboro Police Department officer in a wooded area off NC HWY 41 West near Dublin. The officers fired upon Owen who had allegedly brandished a gun on the officers.

At approximately 7:30 pm., the deputy responded to a complaint of a man with a gun behaving erratically off NC Hwy 41 West. The man was later identified as Owen. A Bladenboro Police Department officer also responded to the scene to assist the deputy.

The deputy and officer encountered Owen in a wooded area where Owen had a gun and the officers shot at him. Owen died at the scene.

Both officers are on paid administrative leave.

###

Contact: Teresa West
Phone: (919) 582-8511