Off-duty Dunn officer shot trying to break up fight at gas station, man charged

A man was charged with attempted murder after an off-duty Dunn police officer was shot trying to stop a fight at a gas station in Cumberland County.

Investigators said off-duty Dunn Officer Joshua Elliott tried to intervene on Tuesday, Sept. 19, when he saw a man and woman arguing outside a gas station at 7805 Ramsey St.

Investigators said the man arrived at the gas station with a woman, who was in distress. The woman asked the store clerk to call 9-1-1, and investigators said the man became hostile and started assaulting the woman.

According to police, the man, identified as Daniel Locklear, fired several rounds into the building, hitting the officer. The officer managed to return fire, shooting Locklear as the woman ran away.

After he was released from the hospital, Locklear, 39, of Maxton, was charged with 5 counts of attempted murder, 14 counts of discharging a firearm into occupied property, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, second-degree kidnapping, felony possession of marijuana, possession of firearm by convicted felon, assault on a female, carrying a concealed weapon, and littering.

Locklear was being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center and was given a $1,102,000 bond.

Dunn Police Chief Cary Jackson said the officer was doing well after receiving treatment at the hospital.

Multiple bullet holes could be seen in the gas station windows, which are boarded up.

"The disturbance started inside the store, and then went outside," said Cumberland County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Mickey Locklear. "The off-duty officer was still inside the store, and that's where the gunfire was exchanged."

If you have any information about this investigation, please contact Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Detective R. Wolfe at 910-677-5464 or Crime Stoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).