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Officers Stop Armed Robbery Suspect Who Started Chase, Shot At Police Cars

Police say the suspect sped away from officers, hitting several of their patrol cars, and fired at officers during the chase.

UPDATE: Police say Jashoun Andrew Steele is out of the hospital and in the custody of the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office. He is charged with the following:

  • 3 counts of felony assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon
  • 1 count of felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
  • 1 count of felony possession of a stolen firearm
  • 1 count of felony speeding to elude arrest
  • $750,000 bond

Steele was also served outstanding warrants for an incident that happened in February:

  • Misdemeanor Assault by Pointing a Gun
  • Felony Second Degree Kidnapping
  • $250,000 bond

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Winston-Salem Police have identified the officers involved in stopping an armed robbery suspect who led them on a chase, crashed into several patrol cars, and fired a gun at officers.

Credit: Winston-Salem Police Department
Left to Right: Officer LaValley and Detective Williams

Police say officers were investigating a previously reported armed robbery on Thursday evening when they identified the suspect, Jashoun Andrew Steele, in a blue Ford Explorer parked in the Silas Creek Crossing Shopping Center.

PHOTOS: Scene of Officer-Involved Shooting in Winston-Salem

Officer M.J. LaValley and several other officers surrounded the SUV.

Police say that's when Steele drove forward ramming into Officer LaValley's patrol car. Police say Steele then reversed and rammed into another police car.

Police say Steele drove forward again to get away. Officer LaValley approached the passenger side of the SUV and shot his gun toward the vehicle, hitting it.

Steele sped out of the parking lot and onto Hanes Mall Blvd and officers began chasing him.

During the chase, police say Officer Waszczeniuk and Officer Bolen were directly behind the Steele's SUV. Investigators say Steele shot at the officers.

The chase went on for about six miles to the intersection of University Parkway and Home Road where Steele crashed head on with a police car driven by Detective K.A. Williams. Police say Steele then fired his gun at Detective Williams.

Police say Detective Williams fired his gun toward the SUV.

In a final attempt to get away, Steele drove the wrong way on University Parkway, hitting several police and civilian vehicles. Officers ended the chase by pinning the SUV.

Jashoun Steele was taken into custody at that point. No one else was inside his SUV.

Police say Steele was injured from a gunshot wound. EMS transported him to a hospital for non-life threatening injuries. He remains in custody while being treated, pending the service of arrest warrants for 3 counts of assault on law enforcement officer with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a stolen firearm, and felony speeding to elude arrest. There are additional unrelated arrest warrants for kidnapping and assault by pointing a gun.

No officers were hurt in this incident.

SBI is investigating, which is protocol in officer-involved shootings. Winston-Salem Police is also doing its own investigation. The department says several officers were equipped with body cameras that will be reviewed as evidence.

Officer LaValley and Detective Williams have been placed on administrative duty until the investigation is complete.

Officer LaValley is a four-year veteran of the Winston-Salem Police Department and serves on the Patrol Division Street Crimes Unit.

Detective Williams is a six-year veteran of the Winston-Salem Police Department and serves on the Criminal Investigations Division Robbery Unit.

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