Pineville Police Officer Fatally Shooting Shoplifting Suspect After Reaching for Officer's Gun

On May 14, 2024, at 3:10 p.m., the Pineville Police Department (PPD) received a shoplifting call from the Food Lion at 10120 Johnston Road. PPD Sergeant Adam Roberts, who was in uniform and working off-duty at the nearby McMullen Creek Shopping Center, informed dispatch he would respond to the call. He drove to the Food Lion parking lot where he saw the suspect, 46-year-old Dennis Bodden, walking towards Johnston Road holding a bag with various grocery items. Bodden was well-known to Pineville Police for chronic shoplifting at this Food Lion and for having violent tendencies towards police and the public.

Additionally, Bodden had two outstanding felony warrants for breaking and entering and felony larceny after breaking and entering from this same Food Lion. Sgt. Roberts contacted Bodden in the upper parking lot, where Bodden ignored and refused verbal and lawful orders to stop. Bodden continued walking away from Sgt. Roberts, who followed him across Johnston Road while requesting backup. Bodden became physically confrontational with Sgt. Roberts, who then deployed a Taser. The Taser was ineffective, and Bodden continued towards Cedar Circle Drive.

Bodden and Sgt. Roberts briefly struggled, while Officer Down ran toward them. Bodden charged at Officer Down, who unsuccessfully attempted to deploy his Taser. Bodden and Officer Down engaged physically, and Bodden grabbed the cord to Officer Down’s radio, pulling it away. During this struggle, Sgt. Roberts drew his firearm. Bodden stepped towards Sgt. Roberts and appeared to reach for the gun. Officer Down yelled, “Get him! Get him!” just before Sgt. Roberts fired three times, striking Bodden.

After the final shot, Officer Down yelled again, “Get him!” Bodden walked a short distance before falling. As Sgt. Roberts and Officer Down handcuffed Bodden, Sgt. Roberts’ body-worn camera recorded him saying, “I didn’t want him to hit you. He’s already bit me real bad.” Officers used a knife to cut off Bodden’s raincoat to treat his wounds. Bodden became unresponsive as additional first responders arrived.

In early July, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department announced it would not file criminal charges in Bodden's shooting. The Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office deemed the shooting a justified use of force, noting that the footage appeared to show Bodden reaching for Sgt. Roberts’ gun during the struggle. The officer involved has returned to full duty.