Statesville Officer Shot In The Back; Vest Stops Bullet In Apparent Ambush

A suspect had not been identified as of Saturday afternoon.

Horn was transported to Iredell Memorial Hospital in a police vehicle, and was released early Saturday morning.

A heavy police presence continued at the scene Saturday, with officers on foot and patrolling in vehicles.

Statesville officers and detectives, state and federal law enforcement officers and other agencies are investigating, Barone said in a statement.

Police did not say how many shots were fired, or whether the officers returned fire.

City of Statesville spokeswoman Nancy Davis said Saturday that Barone was discussing the case with Iredell County District Attorney Sarah Kirkman’s office, but that there would be no more information released Saturday.

Immediately after the shooting, Iredell County Sheriff’s Department deputies and Troutman police also responded and provided assistance.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Statesville Police Department at 704-878-3406 or Crime Stoppers at 704-662-1340.

A Statesville police officer escaped serious injury late Friday night when his protective vest absorbed the brunt of a gunshot fired by an unknown suspect in an apparent ambush.

Statesville Police Chief Joe Barone said Tyler Horn and another officer were on routine foot patrol at about 11 p.m. near the intersection of Raleigh Avenue and Fifth Street when someone stepped out of the shadows behind them and fired multiple rounds in their direction, hitting Horn in the back. A suspect has not yet been identified.

Horn was transported to Iredell Memorial Hospital in a police vehicle, and was released early this morning.

A heavy police presence continued at the scene this morning, with four police vehicles parked at a nearby church, others patrolling and two officers on foot.

Statesville officers and detectives, state and federal law enforcement officers and other agencies are investigating.

Iredell County Sheriff’s Department deputies and Troutman police also responded and provided assistance.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Statesville Police Department at 704-878-3406 or Crime Stoppers at 704-662-1340.

This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.