A Maxton, NC man who unleashed a violent ambush on law enforcement officers—shooting two deputies and running them over with their own patrol vehicle—has been sentenced to 45 years in federal prison.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan handed down the sentence to Shawn Tobin Locklear, Jr., now 22, concluding a federal case that highlighted not only extreme violence against police but also a controversial history of pretrial releases that left Locklear free to commit further crimes.
A “Blaze of Bullets” in the Woods
The events leading to the sentencing unfolded on November 7, 2023. Robeson County Sheriff’s Deputies had located Locklear, who was wanted for cutting his ankle monitor and fleeing charges of domestic violence two months prior.
According to court documents and bodycam footage, when deputies attempted to arrest him at his home, Locklear fled into nearby woods. When two deputies located him, Locklear initially appeared to surrender, showing his left hand from behind a tree. Suddenly, he emerged from the other side with a gun drawn, opening fire without warning.
Both deputies were struck multiple times, sustaining gunshot wounds to the legs and abdomen. As the wounded officers crawled for cover behind their patrol vehicle, Locklear sprinted toward them, dove into the driver’s seat of the cruiser, and threw the car into reverse. He ran over one deputy and narrowly missed crushing the other.
In a bizarre twist following the skirmish, Locklear intercepted an ambulance that had been dispatched to save the dying deputies. He stopped the emergency vehicle in the middle of the road, commandeered it, and drove himself to the hospital.
Fellow Robeson County deputies arrived on the scene, loaded their wounded colleagues into the bed of a pickup truck, and rushed them to the same hospital, where Locklear was subsequently arrested.
A History of Release
Federal prosecutors emphasized that Locklear’s rampage occurred during a period when he should have been behind bars.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Locklear had been arrested for armed robbery in March 2022 but was released on bond by a state court judge. In November 2022, while out on that bond, he was arrested again for murder and robbery. Despite the severity of the new charges, a state court judge released him on bond again in May 2023.
By September 2023, Locklear was involved in a domestic violence incident involving his sister. When police were called, he cut his ankle monitor and fled, leaving behind a stash of drugs and machine guns in his vehicle. This escape led to the manhunt that ended in the shooting of the deputies in November.
Officials Condemn “Revolving Door”
U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle issued a blistering statement regarding the repeated release of Locklear prior to the attack on the deputies.
“This demon should not have walked freely in our community after his first crimes in March 2022, and certainly not after the 2023 crimes,” Boyle said. “He is not fit for society… We all owe a debt of gratitude to the brave, steadfast public servants who put their lives on the line to remove this scourge from our community.”
Sheriff Burnis Wilkins expressed relief that his deputies survived the encounter.
“By the grace of God, the two deputies who were shot and ran over with a stolen patrol car survived,” Wilkins said. “This outcome sends a clear message that violence against those who serve and protect our communities daily will not be tolerated.”
Looking Ahead
While Locklear has been sentenced federally for using a gun during a crime of violence and possessing a machine gun in furtherance of drug trafficking, his legal battles are not over. He still faces state charges in Robeson County, including attempted murder regarding the attack on the deputies.
The case was investigated by the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
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