RFP Staff
♦ At 9:15 P.M. Tuesday night an off-duty Rowan County Sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a robber attempting to stick up the China Buffet on 205 North Arlington Road (Off of East Innes). According to police sources the sheriff’s deputy, dining at the buffet, confronted the masked black male robber armed with a shotgun and wearing gloves. The deputy showed his badge, but the robber continued to menace customers. Moments later the deputy fired off three rounds from his Glock, striking the robber in the upper body and killing him.
At this time the Salisbury Police have not released the names of the deputy or the robber. Immediately after the shooting, the China Buffet was closed to the public while police investigators interviewed customers and staff. All were released by 11 p.m.
Owing to the fact that an off-duty sheriff’s deputy was involved in a shooting, State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) agents were summoned to the China Buffet to conduct their own investigation. This is regular protocol whenever law enforcement are involved in such incidents. At this point the SBI investigators will lead the investigation.
The parking lot of the China Buffet quickly filled up with Salisbury Police Department and Rowan County Sheriff’s Office vehicles.
This morning the RFP learned from sources within the Sheriff’s department that John L. Kempf, Jr., working at the Rowan County Detention Center, was the deputy who stepped into harm’s way at the China Buffet to protect patrons and staff.
This story will be updated as more details are known.
