A fatal officer-involved shooting occurred on Friday morning April 3, 2026 at the residence located at 304 5th Street Southeast in the Kenworth neighborhood of Hickory, North Carolina. Hickory Police Department officers responded to a 911 call from Thompson’s wife reporting that her husband James Andrew Thompson, 64, was armed and intended to harm himself.
As officers were en route multiple neighbors called 911 reporting that Thompson was firing a weapon at passing vehicles striking one driver who was transported to a hospital in stable condition. Upon arrival officers encountered Thompson seated on his front porch holding a handgun. He refused commands to drop the weapon and raised it toward the officers who then discharged their firearms killing Thompson. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by Catawba County EMS.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation was contacted and is conducting an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting at 304 5th Street Southeast as is standard protocol for such incidents in the state. Hickory Police Capt. Andy Kerley and other investigators surveyed the scene where Thompson was shot and killed by officers.
The SBI has not released additional details on Thompson’s medical history or prior interactions with law enforcement pending the completion of the investigation. The case remains active with emphasis on transparency and thorough documentation of the circumstances at the residence in the Kenworth neighborhood of Hickory.
James Andrew Thompson was a 64-year-old Hickory resident who was fatally shot by police after allegedly firing a weapon at passing vehicles and refusing commands to drop the gun. Neighbors in the Kenworth neighborhood reported hearing gunfire and seeing Thompson on his porch targeting vehicles on 5th Street Southeast.
Officers maintained a perimeter while attempting to de-escalate the situation but the threat to public safety prompted them to use deadly force when Thompson aimed the weapon at them. No officers were injured during the encounter that unfolded on 5th Street Southeast in Hickory.
The Hickory Police Department has expressed condolences to Thompson’s family and the community following the incident on 5th Street Southeast. The shooting has prompted community discussions about the challenges of responding to mental health crises and the risks faced by both residents and law enforcement in situations like the one on 5th Street Southeast. No other individuals were reported injured during the incident that unfolded in this central Hickory neighborhood.
The community in Hickory has expressed sorrow over the loss of James Andrew Thompson with residents reflecting on the sudden violence in a neighborhood that is typically quiet. Family members have shared private tributes while local leaders have offered support for those affected by the tragedy on 5th Street Southeast. The incident has heightened awareness around mental health resources and crisis intervention in the city as residents process the events of April 3, 2026.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation continues its independent review of the officer-involved shooting on 5th Street Southeast urging anyone with information to contact authorities. The investigation remains ongoing with a focus on providing clarity for the family and the community following the fatal shooting in this residential area of Hickory North Carolina. As the probe advances authorities maintain emphasis on supporting mental health initiatives and improving responses to similar crises in the region.