The man responsible for a Sampson County deputy getting shot in the leg pleaded guilty to several charges, the State Bureau of Investigation announced.
Michael Walthall Jr. pleaded guilty to assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm, larceny of a motor vehicle, possession of a firearm by a felon and breaking and entering.
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"I'm pleased they were able to work out an arrangement for a plea negotiation," said Jimmy Thornton, Sampson County Sheriff. "The officers, SBI and multiple agencies put forth a lot of work and were concerned."
Walthall got into a struggle with Sampson County sheriff’s deputy Caitlin Emanuel on July 23, 2022, while she was investigating a stolen truck. Authorities said Walthall jumped out of the woods and started strangling her. The deputy's gun went off during the struggle, shooting her twice in the leg.
"She was there by herself," Thornton said. "No one realizes the risk all these officers put themselves through. Their lives are on the line at any given time."
A judge sentenced Walthall to a minimum of eight years in prison and a maximum of 11 years and five months in prison.
The SBI said after the completion of Walthall active sentence in North Carolina, authorities will take him to Pennsylvania to serve an additional four years for a parole violation.
In October 2024, a jury unable to reach a verdict over whether Walthall was guilty of assault on a law enforcement officer with intent to kill. The jury was undecided 11-1 on three out of five felony charges. In the end, Walthall was found guilty on lesser charges of assault by strangulation and larceny of a firearm.
Emanuel has endured multiple surgeries and rehab since the 2022 shooting.
On July 23, 2022, Emanuel's partner, deputy Tyler Spell, applied a tourniquet and rushed her to the hospital moments after she was shot. Emanuel told WRAL News she thought she was going to die in the moment.
Thornton said Emmanuel is doing better, but still recovering from her injuries.
"We've got her working as an officer at the front desk and taking reports," he said. "She's a tough one."