Rockingham County sheriff honors deputies after Oct. 7 shooting; ballistic plate found to contain .38 round

Sam Page, sheriff of Rockingham County, honored deputies and emergency personnel at a ceremony on Oct. 7, 2025, for their response to an officer-involved shooting earlier that day. Page said deputies acting on a domestic-violence-related warrant came under fire, that an officer was reported down, and that responding deputies engaged the suspect.

"These deputies are to be commended for their leadership, professionalism, steadfastness, bravery, quick action, and tactical expertise," Sheriff Page said, introducing the awards. He named the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the Caswell County Sheriff's Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, District Attorney Katie Gregg and Rockingham County Emergency Management and Emergency Services among agencies that assisted in the response.

Page said the incident began after a woman came to the sheriff's office seeking help and that deputies responded to serve arrest warrants. "On 10/07/2025, while assisting in the service of arrest warrants for domestic violence, deputies...came under gunfire from inside the residence," he said, adding that officers followed a tactical plan and engaged the threat.

The sheriff presented a Certificate of Merit to 911 telecommunicator Franklin Moore for "outstanding professionalism, composure, and dedication to duty" in coordinating the response. He also awarded certificates and medals to multiple deputies for actions on the same date, naming Corporal Darraghuera, Deputy Kerwin Charles, Deputy Michael Sullivan, Detective Corporal Thomas Ryan Burns, Corporal Lincoln Thompson, Detective Zachary Folbe, Detective Stephen Harris, Lieutenant Eric Hopper, and Sergeant Tommy Underwood among those recognized.

Page described Sergeant Tommy Underwood's actions during the exchange of gunfire as especially notable. According to the sheriff, Underwood moved toward danger twice to provide cover and create an opportunity for other deputies to withdraw to safety. "When he looked and took his plate out he saw that he had a .38 bullet sticking in his vest," Page said, crediting the ballistic armor with preventing a lethal injury.

Zach Ball, introduced as a representative of Hesco Armor Systems, examined Underwood's plate at the ceremony and told the group the plate was a Hesco 4,600 model. "I figured you need a new plate," Ball said, and offered replacement plates for the department. "This is why we do it. So we're just happy that you're safe and you go home to your family," he said.

Page also noted local victim services, urging people who need help to contact Help Incorporated and its director, Mary Jane Webb. The sheriff closed the ceremony by thanking families, retired personnel and county officials and inviting photos and media questions; deputies made themselves available after the presentation.

The sheriff's account and awards describe the department's version of events and the protective role of the body armor; the transcript records no independent verification of ballistics evidence beyond the sheriff's description at the ceremony. The county and Hesco representatives said replacement armor would be provided; no formal investigation findings or additional procedural steps were announced at the event.