Shooting into Occupied Patrol and Civilian Vehicles

Statement from the Rowan County Sheriff's Department in regards to the June 1st shooting on Hwy 152. 

"On Saturday, June 1, 2024, at approximately 8:38 pm, two deputies with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office were in the area of the 2300 block of NC Hwy 152, when their patrol vehicles were struck by gunfire. Both deputies heard what sounded like gunfire and then heard the bullet as it struck their vehicles.

The deputies turned around and went back to search the area. They were searching the area on foot when they encountered a white male in the yard at 2355 NC Hwy 152 East. The male was later identified as Zackery Johnson. The deputies called out to Johnson, but he ignored them and went back inside the residence. The deputies knocked on the door and after a few minutes Johnson exited the residence.

While questioning Johnson about the incident to see if he had heard or seen anything, one of the deputies noticed a small caliber rifle with a scope laying on the ground in front of the residence, along with a box of 22 caliber ammunition. While questioning Johnson about the incident, he got up and began to walk away. When deputies attempted to detain him, he resisted and assaulted the deputies by twisting a hand and finger of one of the deputies and kicked another deputy. They were eventually able to get him into custody and secured inside a patrol vehicle.

Once Johnson was in custody, deputies discovered that a third patrol vehicle had been struck by gunfire at this same location. Communications also advised that they had received several reports of civilian vehicles being struck by gunfire in that same area. While at the scene, Johnson began to suffer from some type of medical issue which was later discovered that was most likely due to him mixing prescription medication and alcohol. He was transported to Rowan Novant Medical Center for treatment.

In total, three Sheriff’s Office vehicles and three civilian vehicles were damaged by the gunfire. On Tuesday, June 4, 2024, Zackery Ryhan Johnson was released from the hospital. He was taken into custody by deputies from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and served with warrants charging him with, 2 counts of Attempted First Degree Murder, 4 counts of Assault with a Deadly Weapon With Intent to Kill, 6 counts of Discharging a Weapon into Occupied Property, 2 counts of Assault on a Government Official, and 1 count of Resisting a Public Officer. Due to the nature of the incident, Johnson was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under no bond.

No deputies or civilians were injured."