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Haywood County deputy shot by billboard gunman, released from hospital


On Tuesday, July 28, 2020, Haywood County Deputy Eric Batchelor was shot after responding to a disturbance call along Old Asheville Highway. When officers arrived, 32-year-old Jacob Wilbur Wright, of Canton, began shooting at them from atop a billboard. Wright was shot and killed. (Photo credit: Haywood County Sheriff's Office)
On Tuesday, July 28, 2020, Haywood County Deputy Eric Batchelor was shot after responding to a disturbance call along Old Asheville Highway. When officers arrived, 32-year-old Jacob Wilbur Wright, of Canton, began shooting at them from atop a billboard. Wright was shot and killed. (Photo credit: Haywood County Sheriff's Office)
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A Haywood County deputy, shot by a gunman on top of a billboard last week, has been released from the hospital.

Chief Deputy Jeff Haynes tells News 13, Deputy Eric Batchelor was released and is doing much better. Batchelor will be continuing treatments.

RESIDENTS SEND THEIR WELL WISHES TO INJURED DEPUTY AFTER EARLY MORNING SHOOTOUT

On Tuesday, July 28, 2020, deputies from the Haywood County Sheriff’s Department and Canton Police Department were dispatched to Old Asheville Highway just after 2 a.m. in response to a disturbance. The North Carolina Bureau of Investigation says a deputy and two Canton officers encountered an armed man standing on a billboard. The sheriff's office says a man with a rifle fired at officers, striking Batchelor.

Officers returned fire and 32-year-old Jacob Wilbur Wright, of Canton, was struck and killed.

Deputy Batchelor was rushed to Mission Hospital in Asheville where he underwent surgery.

DEPUTY IN STABLE CONDITION AFTER SHOOTING IN HAYWOOD COUNTY; SUSPECT NAME RELEASED

So far, there has been no word as to the alleged motivation of Jacob Wright. Wright had just been released from prison in March. His priors include felony possession of schedule two drugs, breaking and entering, identity fraud and a misdemeanor DWI.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate the incident.

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