Trio of Bertie deputies on administrative leave

WINDSOR – Additional details have emerged in the wake of an officer-involved shooting near here Tuesday that left a Windsor man dead and three Bertie Sheriff’s deputies on administrative leave.

On Wednesday afternoon, Bertie Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin conducted a press conference at his office. Among the new details shared was the reason why a family member of the now late Tyshawn Demmoris Barnes opted to sign an involuntary commitment order to have him taken into custody.

Ruffin said the order, signed at 10:35 a.m. Tuesday, documented that Barnes had threatened to kill a family member and then threatened to kill himself.

The name of the family member whose life was threatened by Barnes was not released. Neither was the name of the family member who signed the involuntary commitment paperwork.

Approximately 90 minutes later, three Bertie deputies arrived at Barnes’s residence, located at 122 Sierra Lane, Windsor, to serve the order.

Ruffin said the deputies used a loudspeaker to announce their presence on the property and to ask Barnes to exit the residence.

“There was another family member inside the residence who did come out with his hands up and cooperated with law enforcement,” Ruffin said, adding the name of that individual will not be released due to the ongoing investigation.

Meanwhile, the deputies continued to use the loudspeaker to ask Barnes to come outside, Ruffin said.

“The family member who came out then attempted to go back inside the residence,” Ruffin said. “We encountered him to get him to come back. It was at that time that Barnes exited the residence with a firearm pointed at the officers. It appeared he was trying to discharge the firearm, but it appeared that the weapon did not discharge.”

At that moment, Barnes went back inside the residence.

“Then he came back out and this time he was discharging the firearm towards the deputies,” Ruffin noted.

One of those bullets, Ruffin said, struck one of the BCSO vehicles parked outside the residence.

“Deputies then used deadly force and struck Barnes,” he added.

Due to the ongoing investigation, Ruffin did not name the deputies involved. None of those deputies were injured.

Ruffin stated he did not know the exact number of bullets fired by either Barnes or the deputies. He did confirm that the weapon used by Barnes was a handgun, but was unsure if it was the same handgun that Barnes had in his possession on the two occasions he exited the residence.

When asked if there were any other weapons located inside the residence, Ruffin said the SBI is handling that part of the investigation.

Ruffin shared that Tuesday wasn’t the first time that Barnes had fired shots at Bertie County deputies. On Sept. 8, 2019, Bertie deputies responded to 129 Cypress Lane, Windsor, in reference to an armed and dangerous person.

“Upon their arrival and were exiting their vehicles, they were met with gunfire,” Ruffin reported, adding that Barnes was the shooter. “None of the deputies were injured.”

Ruffin said a Special Response Team from the North Carolina SBI was summoned to that location and Barnes was taken into custody. Ruffin said Barnes was the only person at the residence at the time the shooting occurred.

“He was released from custody once that case was disposed of through the court system,” Ruffin said

Records show that Barnes – in September of 2019 – was charged with two felony counts of assault with a firearm on a law enforcement official. In court, he was given a suspended sentence and placed on three years probation.

The Sheriff fielded a question regarding the rise in mental health illness nationwide in cases that also involve acts of violence.

“It is a national crisis we’re all dealing with,” Ruffin said. “We are familiar that Barnes had mental issues. We believe that the court records may show he was found to be incompetent. In law enforcement we are trying to train our officers with crisis intervention to prepare for these types of instances. Each incident is different.”

Ruffin explained how an involuntary custody order works, saying it is used when situations arise where an individual may be harmful to themselves or others. It allows a law enforcement officer to take custody of that individual for transport to a hospital where they will go through an evaluation process that allows that person to receive the help they need.

The Sheriff said he that while it saddens him due to the loss of a life in this situation, he is extremely thankful that none of his deputies were injured.

“I pray every day for my deputies,” he acknowledged. “They have families they want to go home to. Every day that we put on our uniform, we never know what we may encounter.”

He added that counseling and other resources have been made available to the deputies who were involved in the incident.

Ruffin said he has spoken with the mother of Barnes.

“As any mother would be in this situation, she is taking this hard,” Ruffin stated.

Ruffin said he has received calls from state and local law enforcement partners who are sending their prayers for all those impacted by Tuesday’s tragic event.

He added that Tuesday’s deadly shooting remains under active investigation led by the SBI and promised there will be more information released once that ends.

In closing, Ruffin offered thanks to Bertie County Communications Center, Bertie Emergency Services, North Carolina SBI, Windsor Police, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, North Carolina Wildlife, and the local District Attorneys Office for their assistance on Tuesday.

Joining Ruffin at the podium during the press conference were BCSO Chief Deputy Timothy Hardy, BCSO Capt. Bonnie Brantley, and Jay Rivenbark, pastor of Open Door Church who asked for comfort for those who suffered a loss on Tuesday as well as for those who were forced to take action.

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