Brittany Locklear, 5, was abducted while waiting for the school bus outside her house.
One suspect was arrested for multiple charges and taken to Hoke County Detention Center.
A Dunn man was sentenced to 600 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of distribution of child pornography.
The growing number of violent incidents and guns found in schools have prompted concerns from many.
Jerry Wayne Scott "threw his rifle to the ground" after seeing the Hoke County deputies, the sheriff's office said.
The Hoke County sheriff's Office said the man, identified as Larry Ray Scott, was armed and refused to drop his weapon before being shot by a deputy.