By Roderick McClain
Wilmington, NC – Wilmington police say the three officers involved in a fatal standoff early Tuesday morning have stellar professional records, but the State Bureau of Investigation will take over the crime scene to ensure an impartial review of the incident.
Officers responded to a domestic disturbance call at 204 Dorchester Place when they saw the 40-year-old Richard Sachariat on the front porch with a metal pipe. Sachariat got rid of the pipe, went inside, and was seen later through a window holding a shotgun and a rifle.
Wilmington Police worked for hours to talk with Sachariat by telephone and a bullhorn, but he remained unresponsive. Wilmington Police Chief Ralph Evangelous says once Sachariat started firing shots the police department's SWAT team took over.
"I have to say there was a lot of restraint, especially early on, but as the rounds kept coming we had to act."
Evangelous says police went inside the home and found Sachariat dead of an apparent gunshot wound. They can't confirm that police shot and killed Sachariat, but suspect that they did.
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