Ryan Hendrix: North Carolina deputy brain dead after parole violator shoots him in the face
HENDERSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA: A deputy of Henderson County sheriff, identified as Ryan Hendrix, has been declared “medically deceased” after he was shot in the face by a wanted parole violator. The incident reportedly happened on Thursday morning, September 10, outside a home on Bethea Drive near Hendersonville.
According to the sheriff’s office, after getting a complaint of someone breaking into a vehicle, deputies arrived at a home in the 200 block of Bethea Drive in the Mountain Home community around 2.50 am. The Henderson County Sheriff Lowell Griffin said the complainant saw someone breaking into their vehicle and when they screamed at the suspect, later identified as Robert Ray Doss, he broke the bedroom window using a crowbar. Griffin added that there was an exchange of gunfire also between the homeowner and Doss.
Soon, officers responded to the scene and found the suspect sitting in a pickup truck across the street from the location of the incident. The sheriff said that initially Doss complied with the cops and also showed his hands, but soon pulled out a gun and shot Hendrix in the face. Two other deputies who were also at the scene responded quickly and killed the accused. The severely-wounded Hendrix was soon rushed to Mission Hospital, where just before 1 pm on Thursday afternoon, he was declared brain dead.
Officials said that his organs will be donated and he continues to be on life support. It has been reported that the 35-year-old, who served the department for eight years, was a Marine veteran and a father of two children. He was set to be exchanging wedding vows with his fiance in October this year. Through the sheriff’s office, the family of Hendrix released a statement that read, “Ryan was doing the job he was born to do and he died doing the job he loved.”
The sheriff’s office also released a statement, saying: “It is with a heavy heart the family of Henderson County Deputy Ryan Hendrix and Sheriff Lowell Griffin announce Ryan’s passing today at 12:57 pm. Early this morning while the world slept, Ryan responded to assist a family needing help when they became innocent victims of a violent encounter. We all know the tragic outcome, but Ryan refuses to let the story end there. Even in passing Ryan continues to exemplify a servant’s heart. You see, Ryan was also an organ donor. He will continue to help strangers for a lifetime, even after making the ultimate sacrifice.”
Meanwhile, regarding the suspect Doss, Griffin said he was from Virginia. South Carolina Probation and Parole officials were looking for him since he violated the parole order. Besides, he also had a criminal history in South Carolina, Georgia, Maryland and Virginia. The cases against him include drug offenses, larceny and felony theft.
In another incident, a St Louis police officer died after being shot in the head by a gunman. Tamarris L Bohannon died on August 29 at SSM Health St Louis University Hospital. "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we report that our critically injured officer has died. Thank you all for your continued thoughts & prayers!" the St Louis Police Department said.