DELCO, NC — A Delco resident is being held without bond at the Columbus County Detention Center following a roadside confrontation that left a veteran deputy wounded and triggered an 11-hour multi-agency manhunt across eastern North Carolina.
William Robert “Robbie” Smith Jr., 47, of 4087 Delco Prosper Road, Delco, faces multiple felony charges, including attempted first-degree murder, assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, and a high felony probation violation.
According to law enforcement records and arrest warrants, the incident began shortly before 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 16, when a Columbus County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop on Delco Prosper Road. Smith fled the scene in his vehicle, lost control, and crashed before fleeing on foot into nearby woods.
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Veteran Deputy Joseph Byrd encountered Smith a short distance from the crash site, where a physical struggle broke out. During the altercation, Byrd was shot through the forearm. Despite his injury, Deputy Byrd managed to drive himself away from the scene to meet assisting units, who transferred him to an ambulance. Byrd underwent surgery at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center and remains in stable condition.
Roughly 75 officers from local, state, and federal agencies, including the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, N.C. State Highway Patrol, and surrounding sheriff’s offices, established a perimeter around Delco-Prosper. SBI agents located Smith hiding off Shackletown Road around 7:00 p.m. A Marlin Model 60 .22 rifle was recovered during the arrest.
After receiving medical evaluation at a local hospital, Smith was processed into the county jail shortly after midnight. During his virtual first court appearance, a judge ordered Smith held with no bond.
All individuals named in this report are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Charges and case statuses may change as investigations and court proceedings continue.
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