officerdown1

"10-33 Officer Down"

Sergeant Lloyd E. Lowry
North Carolina Highway Patrol

Corporal David W. Hathcock
Cumberland County NC Sheriff Dept

On the afternoon of September 23, 1997 just after noon, I heard on my patrol radio that there was a high speed chase headed toward exit 73 on I-95 at the southern edge of my town. I started an intercept course and as i reached the I-95 exit 73 ramp I was called back by dispatch. I was the least experienced officer on that night and had to go back and answer calls in the city. I was 300 yards from where this incident would finally take place. Meanwhile the other units joined in pusuit. (Lt Jerry Hudson, Sgt Wayne McLamb, Terry West and Jimmy Thrower) I would not find out until the next day how close we had all come to giving our lives.

The next morning my girlfriend, now my wife, called me. Lisa stated that 2 officers had been killed near my area and wanted to know if I knew about it. I was stunned. I was not familiar with Sgt Lowry, but Cpl Hathcock was a friend of mine. Less than 2 miles from where I had been broken from the chase the incident occurred we all in this profession fear most. Officer Down. Cpl Hathcock and Sgt Lowry had been murdered in a vehicle stop.

This is how the incident unfolded:
Sgt Lowry made a vehicle stop on I-95. After running the plates on the vehicle occupied by 2 bothers Sgt Lowry discovered the vehicle was stolen. Unknown to Sgt Lowry the brothers had just robbed a bank in South Carolina. When a "hit" came back on the vehicle Sgt Lowry called for back-up and Cpl Hathcock from the Sheriffs Dept arrived.Cpl Hathcock took control of the passenger and Sgt Lowry took the driver out. While attempting to handcuff the suspects a fight broke out. The passenger returned to the vehicle and retrieved a fully automatic AK-47 assault rifle. The suspect opened fire on both oficers striking them several times. The driver then took Sgt Lowrys Service weapon and shot both officers again at close range with their own weapons killing them.

A civilian motorist, passing by notified the police departments of what he had witnessed, the brothers chased and fired at the civilian as he kept up with them relaying vital information by cell-phone, even though his vehicle had been struck several times and eventually disabled by gunfire. When the civilians vehicle came to a stop from the damage from gunfire the 2 brothers approached, placed the AK-47 in the vehicle window, pointed the fully automatic rifle at the driver and fired. The weapon jammed and misfired. The brothers got back into their vehicle and attempted to elude approaching officers. The civilian who risked so much was spared.

The 2 brothers were arrested after a brief foot chase by Dunn Oficers when their vehicle spun out of control attempting to exit the interstate. They were brothers 18 and 19 from Viginia who had just robbed a bank in South Carolina. The suspects were convicted of 2 counts of Murder, armed robbery, posession of a stolen car, shooting into an occupied vehicle and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill on April 29, 1998. On May 13, 1998 they were both sentenced to death.

Later in the afternoon on the same day of this incident, only 5 miles south , again on I-95, A Fayetteville City Police Officer chose to take his own life. It was a devestating day for Officers everywhere. Let us not forget the hidden enemies of our brothers and sisters for we all battle secret demons of our own. Call on each other and be there for each other for we owe it not only to the public, but to serve and protect each other as well.

It is in the memory of these and all Police Officer whether, City, County, State or Federal, whether Campus Police, Railroad Police, Security Police Or any Law Enforcement or security personnel that I dedicate this page to their honor and remembrance. My brothers I am grateful for your sacrifice, I shall not forget.

"10-33 Officer Down!"

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