JACKSON – Two Northampton County deputies are on administrative leave after they were forced to shoot and kill an armed suspect on Big John Store Road in Pleasant Hill.

Northampton Sheriff Jack Smith said his deputies responded to a domestic assault call at 7:45 p.m. on Friday, July 29. Upon their arrival at the residence on Big John Store Road, a woman, Pamela Faison, reported that her husband, Melvin Faison, had assaulted her.

At that time, deputies attempted to arrest Mr. Faison, age 59, but Faison pointed a handgun at the deputies.

The Sheriff said his deputies retreated and set up a perimeter outside the residence in an attempt take Mr. Faison into custody without the use of deadly force.

At approximately 9:15 p.m. Melvin Faison exited his residence and pointed a handgun at NCSO Sergeant Christopher Collier and Deputy Teodore Antunez Jr.  On this occasion, the two deputies fired shots at Faison, but Faison went back inside the residence.

Sheriff Smith requested State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) teams trained to deal with these kinds of standoffs to assist his officers. The SBI Northeastern District agents, Special Response Team (SRT) members, Bomb Squad, and hostage negotiators responded to the residence.

At approximately 3:30 a.m. Saturday, SRT made entry into the home and discovered that the bullets fired earlier by the deputies had struck Melvin Faison and he was deceased.

Subsequently, Sheriff Smith requested the SBI investigate the officer involved shooting.

Sgt. Collier and Dep. Antunez have been placed on administrative leave under departmental policy pending the completion of the SBI investigation.
Sheriff Smith said of the incident, “It is unfortunate the deputies had to use deadly force. However, we expect the deputies to use deadly force when their lives are threatened.”

Neither deputy was injured during the standoff.

Smith said it is protocol and standard operating procedure for law enforcement officers to be placed on administrative leave when they are involved in shootings.