Robeson County standoff ends with homeowner dead

ROBESON COUNTY (WTVD) -- The Robeson County Sheriff's Office said Monday that a standoff with an armed homeowner who fired numerous rounds at law officers Sunday afternoon, ended with the man's death.

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A state trooper was shot in his vest during the incident, which went on for hours on Acadiana Drive off McIver Road in Parkton.

Deputies said they went to the home about 2:05 p.m. for a well-being check and weapon violation. When they got there, they spoke to the homeowner, Kevin Anthony Battaglia, who appeared upset.

Battaglia was armed, had a bullet proof vest on, refused assistance and made threats to deputies.

The sheriff's office said Battaglia fired shots at a deputy who was calling for backup and that Battaglia fired more rounds when other deputies and state troopers arrived at the home.

For more than two hours, four officers were pinned down and a state trooper was shot in his vest. Several patrol cars were struck by gunfire.

Other law enforcement agencies responded, including the Robeson County Sheriff's Office Special Response Team, Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Special Response Team, Fayetteville Police Department Special Response Team, and the Lumberton Police Department Special Response Team.

An ABC11 crew at the scene said gunshots could be heard near the suspect's home.

Roads leading to the area were blocked off and neighbors told ABC11 they were evacuated from their homes.

"You start hearing stuff like that and you're thinking, there's gunfire going on in my neighborhood. What do you do?" neighbor John Matt said. "You either take cover or hope like heck you're not one of the victims."

Some surrounding homes were struck by bullets during the standoff.

As the ordeal continued, more agencies responded, including the Parkton Police Department, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

The standoff finally ended in the 33-year-old Battaglia's death.

Authorities did not specify whether he was shot by an officer or whether he took his own life.

The case is being investigated by North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.