LENOIR, NC – On Tuesday, at approximately 7:20 a.m., an encounter between a woman and the police turned deadly in Lenoir. The Lenoir Police Department responded to a call regarding a possible drug overdose at 1983 Starcross Road. Upon arrival, officers encountered Shellabell Tester, a 46-year-old woman, who became agitated and brandished two knives at them.
Despite using a Taser in an attempt to subdue her, Tester persisted in her threatening behavior, charging at the officers with the knives in a narrow hallway. In response, one officer fired their weapon, striking Tester. She was provided with medical assistance but later succumbed to her injuries at a nearby hospital. None of the officers were harmed during the incident.
The State Bureau of Investigation, along with the Lenoir Police Department’s internal affairs unit, is conducting a thorough investigation into the events that transpired.
The officer involved in the shooting, Sgt. Brandon Macleod, a member of the department since December 2010, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, as per standard procedure.