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2 men shoot at N.C. paramedic

Man had called 911 after seeing suspects enter drugstore

By Tiffany R. Leonard
Charlotte Observer
Copyright 2007 The Charlotte Observer

LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — Paramedic Jimmy Perkins was headed home about 10 p.m. Wednesday when he noticed two men dressed in black entering a CVS in East Lincoln.

Perkins called 911, saying he believed the CVS was being robbed. He stopped behind the men’s vehicle to write down the license plate number.

Then, the men came out of store, confronting Perkins.

“They came out (of the store) actually crouched down and shooting,” Perkins told WCNC, the Observer’s news partner. “They looked out; apparently they saw me and started shooting when they came out of the door heading for their vehicle.”

Perkins, 52, was shot in the leg. He was taken to Presbyterian Hospital in Huntersville and was treated and released.

Perkins has worked as a paramedic for Lincoln County Emergency Medical Services for more than 10 years.

According to a statement from Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the men rammed Perkin’s vehicle and fled the scene in a white 2005 Mazda.

Officials used reverse 911 to notify residents in the area.

The vehicle was found abandoned at the end of Fairfield Forest Road near Lake Norman. An undisclosed amount of money and two hand guns were recovered from the suspect’s vehicle.

The Sheriff’s Department TAC team and K-9 unit were called out and found two men hiding under a boat dock around 11:30 Wednesday night.

Raymond Vernon Jones, 42, and Eric Lester Jones, 19, both of Charlotte, were booked into the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center Thursday morning. They were charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon, attempted murder, conspiracy, kidnapping and possession of a stolen firearm.

Raymond Jones remains under $500,000 bond. Eric Jones’ bond has been raised from $250,000 to $500,000.

As of Thursday evening, police officials were still looking for a third suspect.