NC state trooper shot and killed during traffic stop in Columbus County; Suspect in custody

A North Carolina state trooper was shot and killed earlier this morning in Columbus County during a traffic stop:

UPDATE: NC Department of Public Safety says state trooper was conducting a traffic stop when a suspect shot and killed him in Columbus County. This is a pic from the scene where the suspect was taken into custody. #WatchWBTV #AlertCenter pic.twitter.com/7XI5O8v3Oq

— Micah Smith WBTV (@MicahSmith_TV) October 17, 2018

According to reports, the shooting happened shortly after midnight and the suspect was taken into custody after an “extensive search.”

The trooper’s name has yet to be released:

The @NCSHP and it's @NCPublicSafety family are mourning the loss of one of its troopers who was fatally shot this morning in a traffic stop in Columbus County. More information is forthcoming. pic.twitter.com/q7HsozVkqf

— NC Highway Patrol (@NCSHP) October 17, 2018

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