Armed, barricaded subject in Concord arrested: officials

CONCORD, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Concord officials say the subject who barricaded themself was arrested Sunday night by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and turned over to Concord Police.

The suspect was identified as 51-year-old Kerry Thomas Kieth of Concord.

Police received a report of gunshots on Providence Court NW in the Freedom Acres Subdivision at 4:39 a.m. Sunday. A neighbor reported hearing gunshots and the suspect yelling in his backyard, officials said.

When officers arrived, the suspect was verbally aggressive and yelling at officers from the backyard before going inside.

A SWAT response was initiated after officers at the scene heard possible gunshots from inside the home; however, there is no evidence that shots were fired at anyone.

The suspect’s father was also home at the time and was able to leave the house while law enforcement communicated with the suspect to bring him into custody.

Before he could be arrested, Concord officials say he fled on a motorcycle through basement doors, across the backyard and onto a nearby street at a high rate of speed.

A vehicle pursuit was not initiated in order to protect the public’s safety and in accordance with the department’s policy.

Concord Police said the barricade ended around 1:00 p.m. Sunday.