Gates County suspect allegedly on U.S. terrorist watch list
Published 4:55 pm Tuesday, March 12, 2024
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EURE – The man arrested near here last night (Monday) following a four-hour standoff with local law enforcement is allegedly on a terrorist watch list kept by the United States Government.
Gates County Sheriff Ray Campbell said he was notified of that information by U.S. Immigration, who made contact with Campbell upon learning that Awet Hagos was the individual arrested and charged in Monday’s incident.
“U.S. Immigration has placed a detainer on Awet Hagos, meaning he is prohibited from being bonded out of jail,” Campbell said.
As of last night, Hagos was confined to the Albemarle District Jail in Elizabeth City, held under a $100,000 secured bond.
Campbell added that Hagos previously resided in Haiti.
“From the information we gathered on him since his arrest, he is originally from Africa, somewhere near the Yemen border,” Campbell said. “He applied for U.S. citizenship two weeks ago, but was denied.”
At around 6:40 pm on Monday, deputies from the Gates County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the Quick Stop convenience store, located along US 13 South near Barfield Road, for reported gunshots. Campbell said the responding deputies were informed that a part-time employee of the store had been outside the store discharging a firearm.
“Upon arrival, the deputies and a Trooper with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol attempted to take the suspect into to custody,” Campbell said. “However, the suspect became extremely combative and at one point attempted to disarm a deputy of their firearm. The suspect then fled into a small camper located adjacent to the business.”
Hagos was arrested four hours later after hiding underneath a nearby residence. He was charged with three counts of assault on a government official, three counts of resisting a public officer, and carrying a concealed weapon. Campbell said additional charges may be pending.
A search warrant executed on Tuesday found the weapon inside the camper along with what Campbell described as “military intelligence material.”
The Sheriff said Hagos just recently relocated to Gates County from Oakland, California, taking a part-time job at the Quick Stop.