Update: Kinston Police release details of officer-involved shooting following hostage call
Case Update
Following an internal review conducted by the Kinston Police Department Administration and the department's Internal Affairs Division, the following information is being released to provide transparency and support the actions taken by responding officers during a recent critical incident.
On Sunday, July 20, 2025, at approximately 3:15 a.m., officers with the Kinston Police Department were dispatched to 1312 Manchester Road, Kinston, N.C., in response to a 911 call received by the Lenoir County 911 Center.
The initial call, made by a male subject, at 1312 Manchester Road. The caller reported, “I’m at 1312 Manchester Road. This man has a pistol held on this woman, and he said he is going to shoot and kill everybody. You better send somebody right away. You got me?”. The dispatcher confirmed that law enforcement was enroute and asked if the woman was being held hostage. The caller replied, “Yes,” before the call was disconnected.
The dispatcher was able to re-establish contact with the caller to gather additional details. During that call, the caller again stated, “This man has a gun on this woman. The police get here, he said he is coming out the door shooting.” When asked if he intended to shoot the woman, the caller replied, “Yes.” The dispatcher remained on the line, but the caller stopped responding. A female can be heard in the background, crying and pleading for help. The call ended with the audible sound of gunfire.
Captain Andrew Willis and Corporal James McDevitt were the first Kinston Police Department officers to arrive on the scene. Due to the nature of the call, they parked several houses away and approached the residence under the cover of darkness to protect the victim and assess the threat. Three Lenoir County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived shortly after and followed the officers to the front of the residence.
Upon arrival at the door, both Kinston officers observed a man (later identified as Nathan Burney, 72 years old) standing behind a glass storm door. Captain Willis gave verbal commands, instructing Mr. Burney three times to open the door. Mr. Burney then pointed a firearm directly at the officers. Captain Willis issued two commands to drop the weapon before both officers discharged their firearms, firing multiple rounds through the glass door. The exchange lasted approximately 3–4 seconds, and Mr. Burney was struck.
Captain Willis immediately notified Lenoir County Communications that shots had been fired and requested emergency medical services. The officers and deputies entered the home, disarmed Mr. Burney, and proceeded to clear the residence to ensure the safety of other occupants. A female victim was located hiding in a closet. Two additional individuals, who were not involved in this incident, were found in a separate bedroom.
During the clearing process, Cpl. McDevitt directed the next arriving Kinston Officer to retrieve a trauma kit. While awaiting assistance from Lenoir County EMS and Kinston Fire & Rescue, Captain Willis rendered life-saving efforts, including CPR. Despite their efforts, Mr. Burney was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the 911 caller was Nathan Thomas Burney who was also the suspect in the domestic violence incident where he threatened to kill the female victim while holding her hostage.
The Kinston Police Department remains committed to transparency and accountability. We recognize our community members have questions about this incident and have requested for the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) to conduct a thorough and impartial review of the incident to ensure that all facts are properly examined before any conclusions are reached. Both officers involved have been placed on administrative leave per department policy. Our thoughts remain with Mr. Burney’s family and with the officers involved as we all work through the aftermath of this tragic event.
We will not be releasing another statement regarding this incident until the SBI is finished with their investigation.
Previous Release
At approximately 3:15 a.m. on Sunday, July 20, 2025, officers with the Kinston Police Department were dispatched to a residence in the 1300 block of Manchester Road in reference to a domestic-related incident. During the response, officers were informed that a male suspect at the location was armed with a firearm and threatening to shoot a female present at the residence.
Upon arrival, officers were met at the door by the male suspect. During a brief encounter with him, the suspect produced a firearm. In response to the immediate threat, officers discharged their weapons, striking the suspect. Officers rendered aid at the scene; however, the suspect was pronounced deceased on-site.
As per department policy, both officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigations. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NC SBI) has been requested to conduct an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting. The Kinston Police Department will also conduct an internal review of the incident.
Additional information will be released as the investigation allows.
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