Three High Point police officers wounded in standoff. Suspect shot and killed

Three High Point police officers were wounded by gunfire early Feb. 5 while attempting to apprehend an armed man barricaded in a home, according to a police department press release.

The suspect in the case, 34-year-old Josue Drumond-Cruz, was later shot and killed by police, officials said.

A woman was later found shot and killed in the home, after police gained entry, the release said. Police have not said who is suspected of killing the woman.

All three wounded officers were members of the High Point Police Department Tactical Team and were hospitalized with non-life-threatening wounds, officials said in a Feb. 9 update. They have since been released fro the hospital, officials said.

Investigators say the incident began around 11:15 p.m. on Feb. 4, when police officers heard shots in the 2900 block of West English Road, the release said. The officers began searching for the source and found Drumond-Cruz “standing near the roadway cursing,” officials said.

“Drumond-Cruz retreated into the residence and reemerged with a rifle style weapon and pointed it at officers. High Point police officers gave commands, which were ignored and Drumond-Cruz retreated a second time back into the residence,” officials said.

Negotiators tried unsuccessfully to convince Drumond-Cruz to surrender, and the tactical team tried entering the home about 3:40 a.m., resulting in the officers being shot, officials said.

“Over the next several hours, Drumond-Cruz continued to shoot from inside the residence in the direction of officers and their equipment outside of the home,” officials said.

“At approximately 10:10 a.m., officers returned fire, striking and killing Drumond-Cruz. Officers entered the residence ... and while inside discovered the body of a female.”

The woman was identified as Blanca E Cadavid, 35, of High Point, officials said. A medical examiner reports she died “8-10 hours before the discovery of her body,” officials said.

“Officers also located two children, ages 12 and 14, who were physically unharmed,” the release said.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the High Point Police are investigating the incident, officials said.

This story was originally published February 5, 2021 at 7:50 AM with the headline "Three High Point police officers wounded in standoff. Suspect shot and killed."