A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer shot and killed a telephone company worker early this morning after the victim pointed a gun at the officer, police officials say. The shooting happened shortly before 1:30 a.m. in a small building that houses cell phone equipment near the corner of Albemarle Road and East W.T. Harris Boulevard. The victim is identified as Anthony Wayne Furr, 41, of Oakboro, in Stanly County.
Police say the incident began about 1 a.m., when a resident of the area called police and said a suspicious vehicle was parked near a cell tower. Several officers were sent to the building. The first to arrive was Officer Adam Benson, who spoke to the person who had called police. That person said a white truck, parked near the cell phone substation, did not belong there. The caller also said he saw a man walking toward the building. While this was happening, police say, CMPD Officers Anthony Payne and Steven Branan also arrived at the scene. They started searching for the man, while Benson went to check the truck. Police say the door to the building was open and lights were on inside. According to police, Payne looked through the doorway and saw a man, later identified as Furr, inside.
Police said Payne identified himself as a police officer and asked Furr not to move. According to police, Furr reached behind his back and pulled out a handgun. Police say Furr refused to obey repeated commands from the police officer to put down the gun. Police say Furr raised the gun in the direction of the officer and started walking toward him. At that point, police say, Payne fired his service revolver, striking and killing Furr . . .
