Man Killed in Officer-Involved Shooting at ECU Recreational Complex

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – A 27-year-old man was shot and killed by a Greenville police officer Monday evening at the ECU North Recreational Complex. The deceased, identified as Nolan Ward of Greenville, was a personal property appraiser for Beaufort County since September 2022.

Officers responded to the scene around 4:30 p.m. after receiving reports of a man with a gun threatening to harm himself. According to police, Ward raised a firearm at officers around 5:15 p.m., prompting Officer Brandon Gilbert, a two-year veteran of the department, to fire his weapon. Ward was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witness Leo Brown, who was playing frisbee golf nearby, described the tense moments leading up to the shooting. “We were real close to him, like 10 to 15 feet away,” Brown said. “A cop told us to back up because the guy was armed and dangerous. After a few minutes, they started talking to him, but he wasn’t cooperating. I heard two gunshots.”

The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has been called in to assist with the investigation. Officer Gilbert has been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the inquiry.

ECU Deputy Chief of Police Chris Sutton addressed concerns about the lack of a campus-wide alert, stating that the incident occurred at a recreational facility away from the main campus and posed no ongoing threat. “The location of the incident and the absence of a broader threat influenced our decision,” Sutton explained.

Authorities have urged anyone with additional information or who witnessed the incident to contact the Greenville Police Department. Further details are expected to be released as the investigation progresses.