AGENT WOUNDED

Drug Raid Leaves 2 Hospitalized

A shootout during a drug raid in Winnabow late Friday has left a Brunswick
County Sheriff's Department official and a suspect in critical condition as
of Saturday night. Another suspect is in Brunswick County Jail on various
charges including attempted murder.

Narcotics agent Stephen Lanier was shot in the neck and hand Friday night
and is in the New Hanover Regional Medical Center, said Sheriff Ron Hewett.
Suspect Paul Emanuel Pelham, 24, was shot multiple times and is also at
that hospital.

Lavar Atari Thomas, 22, was captured after a neighbor informed 911 he had
come to the house. He was also shot during the raid and was treated and
released. Mr. Thomas is being held for attempted murder, assault on law
enforcement officer inflicting serious injury and obstruct and delay.

The warrant was issued after neighbors complained about drug trafficking in
the home. Sheriff Hewett said.

According to Sheriff Hewett, the Brunswick County Narcotics Division went
to 326 Van Galloway Trail about 10:30 p.m. Friday with a warrant that
allowed them to search for crack cocaine.

Sheriff Hewett said officers knocked on the door and announced themselves,
but received no answer. After the officers used force to enter the trailer,
the sheriff said Mr. Pelham began firing at officers and shot Agent Lanier.
Mr. Thomas fired at officers after jumping out of a side window, he said.

Officers returned fire, striking Mr. Pelham a number of times, and hitting
Mr. Thomas in the back, the sheriff said. Agent Lanier was the only officer
shot.

Mr. Pelham was then taken into custody, but Mr. Thomas ran through the
woods and was able to elude officers. Sheriff Hewett said Mr. Thomas ran to
the nearby house of a neighbor, who let him in. Sheriff Hewett said once
the neighbors realized Mr. Thomas was being chased by law enforcement
officials, they called 911 and deputies caught up with him.

Sheriff Hewett said his men deserved praise, because they moved a shot
Agent Lanier to safety, even as Mr. Pelham emptied his .357.

"People like to associate ball players as their heroes," said Sheriff
Hewett. "But, heroes are officers who put themselves between gunfire and
another officer when he is down," he said.

The sheriff said marijuana and cocaine were found in the trailer.

Traces of the shootout were highly visible in the home Saturday afternoon.
A number of bullet holes were plastered throughout the house. In between
broken furniture, a trail of blood connected the back room where Mr. Pelham
slept, to the front porch.

Hospital officials said they have been ordered by the sheriff's department
not to comment on the two men's condition. However, Joann Mishoe, who
visited her son Mr. Pelham in the hospital Saturday, said nurses told her
he had been shot about 17 times, and had a fractured skull, broken jaw and arm.

Ms. Mishoe, who also talked with Mr. Thomas Saturday, said he told her that
he was on a couch and Mr. Pelham was sleep Friday night when the officers
burst in the door unannounced, and began firing.

"I'm not trying to make the officers look like villains, but I think the
facts will speak for themselves," said Ms. Mishoe, who lives beside her son.

Ms. Mishoe, her son, brother and friends got into a circle Saturday
afternoon and prayed for Mr. Pelham.

"I will pray for all three of them," Ms. Mishoe said.