Deputy cleared in shooting

Published 6:52 pm Thursday, January 24, 2019

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office deputy involved in the Oct. 20, 2018, shooting of a Simpson man wanted for murder has been cleared.

Second Judicial District Attorney Seth Edwards announced Thursday that no criminal charges will be filed for the shooting of Billy Grizzard III.

Grizzard, who was wanted by the Greenville Police Department for the murder of 19-year-old Seth Nicholas Street earlier the same day, was shot in the arm after sheriff’s office deputies tracked him down in Beaufort County. Grizzard and his girlfriend, Kellie Anne Mosely, allegedly broke into and vandalized a Blounts Creek home, then led deputies on a vehicle chase from Blounts Creek to Chocowinity, where the shooting occurred.

The decision not to press charges “was based upon a thorough review of an investigation conducted by the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation,” according to a press release from Edwards.

The deputy involved in the shooting was put on administrative leave during the investigation.

The BCSO incident happened the same weekend of another officer-involved shooting, this one fatal. A Washington Police Department officer fatally wounded Washington resident Cedric Pritchard during a traffic stop the afternoon of Oct. 21, 2018. According to a statement released by Washington Police and Fire Services at the time, Pritchard allegedly “exited the vehicle armed with a firearm as the officer approached.”

Edwards said the WPD shooting is still under review.