Deputy's Quick Response May Have Saved Three Lives

A Lee County deputy may have saved three men’s lives Sunday night when he heard shots being fired on Pinehaven Drive and went to check it out. The incident happened about 9:44 p.m. on the 2700 block of Pinehaven Drive at Sanchez’s home, said Capt. Jeff Johnson of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Sanchez, Dominguez and another man were in the front yard, Johnson said, when two men walked into the yard and demanded money. One is believed to have been armed with a pistol, and the other with an assault rifle, Johnson said. They forced the three men to the ground and shot Sanchez and Dominguez, Johnson said. He said the suspects did not appear to be acquainted with the victims. “They did everything (the men) told them to. I guess they were showing them they meant business,” Johnson said. The men then went inside Sanchez’s house, where his family — including children and an infant — were, Johnson said. That was when Deputy Chuck Thomas arrived. The third man on the ground yelled for help and the suspects fled. “(Thomas) was in that area. Actually, he was looking for some loud music and heard gunshots and responded,” Johnson said. He credits Thomas’ arrival with preventing any other injuries. Dominguez had a gunshot wound to the hip and was taken to Central Carolina Hospital, Johnson said. His condition was not available. Sanchez, who was shot in the back, was taken by helicopter to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. A hospital spokeswoman said they had no record of Sanchez there. “We do have some leads we’re working on,” Johnson said.

UPDATE - Sept 27th, 2007

(courtesy of The Sanford Herald)

A Battleboro man has been arrested for his alleged part in a shooting that left one man paralyzed, Lee County sheriff’s deputies. Derrick Jermaine Pittman, 24, was apprehended Tuesday by U.S. marshals in Rocky Mount. Pittman was one of three suspects in an Aug. 12 robbery that led to two people being shot. The robbery happened when Filimon Sanchez of Lee County was at his home with Diego Dominguez when three men approached, demanded money and ended up shooting both Sanchez and Dominguez. A Lee County sheriff’s deputy responded to the shots and the suspects fled on foot — leaving their vehicle at the scene. Dominguez was treated for minor injuries after the shooting, but Sanchez’s injuries have left him paralyzed. Johnson said deputies are still seeking the other two suspects. Pittman was charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder. He was placed in Lee County Jail under $1,000,000 secured bond.