A North Carolina community is reeling after an off-duty police officer was killed in a late-night shooting that also left two others wounded, including her estranged husband, an off-duty firefighter, in what authorities are calling a devastating incident.

Lexington Police Officer Kaitlin Crook, 25, was fatally shot around 9 p.m. on December 17 in a parking lot on Cedar Lane Drive, outside the Home and Appliance King store near Cotton Grove Road. Officers responding to reports of gunfire found three people suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Crook was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three Victims, One Fatal Outcome

Police identified the other two victims as Joshua Moore, 31, of Thomasville, and Zachary Rogers, 35, a Lexington firefighter and Crook’s estranged husband. All three were off duty at the time of the shooting.

Rogers was transported to the hospital in critical condition, while Moore, identified as Crook’s current boyfriend, was taken to the hospital in stable condition and is expected to recover.

According to investigators, both men were armed when they encountered each other in the parking lot. Shots were fired during the confrontation, striking all three individuals. Crook was the only person fatally wounded.

Two handguns were recovered at the scene, one believed to belong to Rogers, and the other to Moore. Police said no other individuals are believed to have been involved.

“Every Chief’s Worst Nightmare”

The loss of Officer Crook has sent shockwaves through the local law enforcement community.

“There are no words that can adequately capture the weight of what so many people are feeling during this terrible and devastating time,” said Robby D. Rummage, chief of the Lexington Police Department. “Losing a police officer is every chief’s worst nightmare. My heart is heavy, and my prayers are with everyone touched by this tragedy.”

The department has made counseling and support services available to officers as they mourn the loss of one of their own.

Fire Department Also Mourns

The shooting has also deeply affected the Lexington Fire Department, where Rogers serves as a firefighter.

Michael R. Tofano called the incident “a profound tragedy that deeply affects the public safety family in the City of Lexington as well as all City employees, the Lexington community and beyond.”

The fire department has similarly made counseling resources available to its personnel.

Investigation Underway

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation into the shooting. Authorities have emphasized that many details remain unclear.

“There are a lot of things we simply don’t know yet about this terrible tragedy,” Chief Rummage said. “We simply have to wait for the NCSBI investigation to answer those questions.”

Community Grief and Condolences

The North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police issued a statement expressing condolences to Crook’s family, friends, and colleagues. The statement noted that while she was off duty at the time, early reports indicate the shooting stemmed from a domestic violence situation.

“As we approach the holiday season,” the statement read, “we ask everyone to keep all those affected by this heartbreaking loss in your thoughts and prayers.”

As Lexington mourns the life of Officer Kaitlin Crook, a young public servant lost far too soon, the community waits for answers. The loss has been deeply felt across the city. It is a tragedy that touched multiple branches of its public safety family in a single, irreversible moment.