Unarmed College Student Shot by Police

Peyton Strickland, a Durham North Carolina native was shot, and killed Friday, by the hands of the Wilmington Police, at his home that he shared with three other roommates. According to reports the authorites were serving him with an arrest warrant, for charges with armed robbery, and assault after allegedly stealing a Playstation and three consoles. Further investigation before authorities went to the home revealed a friend of Strickland's, who was at the home at the time of the shooting, posed with guns in photos on the Internet, which made authorities be at high risk when they entered the Wilmington home.

Arrest warrants alleged that Peyton Strickland, a student at Cape Fear Community College and a University of North Carolina at Wilmington student stole two playstation units from another UNC student on the day the game system was released. District attorney of New Hanover County Ben David says the shooting will have a full investigation. "No one is above the law, and no one is beneath it's protection," he said. Peyton died from a gunshot wound to the head according to Medical Examiner's Office in Jacksonville. Peyton's german shepherd was also killed at the home. State Medical Examiner Charles L. Garrett said the bullet struck Strickland in the head sideways.

Garrett said that he suggests the bullet penetrated another object first before it struck Strickland. Investigators said that the front door of Strickland's rental home had been pierced by bullets. Detective Larry Robinson, 34, Sgt. Greg Johnson, 39, and Cpl. Christopher Long, 34, have been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation. The New Hanover County Sheriffs Office has been inundated by hate mail and threats in recent days. The officers and their families have gone to an undisclose location until further notice.

On Sunday, December 3, 2006 the parents of Peyton, Don and Kathy Strickland, released this statement: " Our son, Peyton, was a kind and gentle boy. He was generous, thoughtful and compassionate. He was deeply loved by us and adored by his two sisters and his extended family. Only 18, he had tremendous potential and was just coming into his own. We want to extend our appreciation to everyone who has reached out to us with expressions of love and support. We may well want to speak more about the circumstances of his tragic death, but we plan to devote the next few days to celebrating his life."

Family and friends gathered to say goodbye to Strickland at The Church of Good Shepherd. On Wednesday, December 6, 2006, over 1,200 people came to mourn the loss of Strickland. Strickland's dog was cremated and his remains were in an urn next to his master's ashes on the altar.