R.I. authorities arrest fugitive accused of killing N.C. police officer

Irving Fenner, who was wanted out of North Carolina for shooting and killing a police officer.Rhode Island State Police

Federal, state, and local authorities Wednesday morning arrested a fugitive in Coventry, R.I., who allegedly shot and killed a police officer Saturday in Shelby, N.C., officials said.

Over the weekend, Shelby police tried to arrest Irving Fenner, 23, who had arrest warrants for robbery and kidnapping charges, Rhode Island State Police said in a statement. A struggle broke out between Fenner and Officer Timothy Brackeen, and the two exchanged gunfire.

Brackeen was wounded and died Monday, officials said.

Officer Tim Brackeen. Police Department via AP

Authorities launched a nationwide manhunt for Fenner and learned that his half-sister, Jolisa Peeler, had driven to North Carolina and brought Fenner back to her Providence apartment, Rhode Island State Police Major Joseph Philbin said.

On Tuesday evening, the Rhode Island SWAT team, FBI agents, and Providence police officers raided an apartment at 150 Oxford St., but Fenner was not there, authorities said. After obtaining more information, investigators went to a Coventry apartment, where they were able to take Fenner into custody peacefully around 2 a.m., State Police said.

Fenner had a gunshot wound on his lower torso from his standoff with Shelby police, Philbin said. He was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was treated and released into police custody.

He will be charged with first-degree murder, State Police said.

Shelby Police Chief Jeff Ledford could not immediately be reached for comment, but told the Shelby Star the arrest brought some “much-needed” good news.

“I was fortunate to get to tell [Brackeen’s] wife,” Ledford told the Star. “It meant a lot to the both of us, to get to do that. I think there is a range of emotions for them. There’s some joy in that. Of all people that need some good news this week, and it’s something to lift them up, it’s them.”

Peeler, Fenner’s sister, was also arrested and will be charged with accessory after the fact.

Corry Peeler, 39, Fenner’s uncle, and Corry Peeler’s girlfriend, Hope Wyman, 39, were arrested for harboring a fugitive in their apartment, State Police said.