SOUTHPORT, North Carolina —
A Southport police detective has been suspended without pay after being
indicted in the shooting death of a teen last month.
Bryon Vassey previously had
been on paid leave while the Jan. 5 shooting of 18-year-old Keith Vidal was
investigated.
Vassey was the third
officer to respond to a mental health call in Boiling Spring Lakes.
Investigators say Vassey shot Vidal less than two minutes after the officer
arrived.
A Brunswick County grand
jury indicted Vassey earlier this month on a charge of voluntary manslaughter.
Vassey's lawyer, James
Payne, said his client fired to protect Boiling Spring Lake officer John
Thomas, who was scuffling with the teen on the floor when the detective
arrived. Payne said the teen swung a hand tool at Thomas' head.