COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) – A man who was shot and killed by deputies in Columbus County in May 2024 has been officially ruled a homicide, as stated in an autopsy report.
The report from the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office regarding Henry Zartman, who was from South Carolina, indicated he sustained 44 external gunshot injuries, with 27 of them being entry wounds and 14 being exit wounds. Additionally, his blood tested positive for the prescription medications gabapentin, tramadol, and trazodone, which were considered to be within “typical therapeutic ranges.”
The autopsy determined that Zartman died from multiple gunshot injuries.
“The cause of death was determined to be murder,” the autopsy report indicated.
As per the Columbus County Sheriff’s OfficeDeputies arrived at the scene of a gunfire incident around 10:30 p.m. on May 15, 2024, on N.C. 905 near Seven Creeks Highway in Nakina.
In the published 911 recordingsA caller is heard stating that Zartman was an ex-boyfriend and that he threatened to go to her house and take his own life. Dispatch was also informed that it appeared Zartman wanted the deputies to shoot him.
The initial investigation report states that upon the deputies’ arrival, Zartman tried to flee. The deputies attempted to halt him by using “electronic device prongs…which were placed on him, but he showed no response.”
The report indicates that Zartman then retrieved a handgun, “which led law enforcement to respond with their weapons.”
The document stated that multiple handgun shells were discovered in the front yard of the home where deputies arrived.
In June 2024, the five deputies involved in the shooting resumed their duties after being on administrative leave.
The initial report indicates that Zartman’s family and former girlfriend informed authorities that Zartman experienced “multiple instances of intense behavior marked by an obsessive focus on another individual.”
It was also mentioned in the initial report that “neither party has a history of chronic medical issues; [Zartman], as stated by family and former girlfriend, does not have a record of illegal drug use or previous thoughts or attempts related to suicide.”
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, which assumed responsibility for the case, has subsequently sent it to the District Attorney for examination.
The office of the Columbus County District Attorney states that the case remains under investigation.
Columbus County Sheriff Bill Rogers shared the following message on the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page:
In response to the recent surge in media attention about a deputy-involved shooting that occurred in May of last year, I would like to offer clarity and transparency, ensuring that my community receives the complete story—rather than just partial or biased information. It’s important that the public hears the full narrative, not just what is featured on the evening news. Facts are essential, but so is the manner in which they are presented. The results of the autopsy are just one aspect of a broader investigation. They should be examined thoroughly within the full context, rather than being simplified into headlines.
This scenario involves real individuals, real suffering, and real difficulties. We must never forget that. As law enforcement officers, we frequently enter high-risk situations involving people in crisis. In this instance, my deputies were called to a situation involving a man with a gun, and within moments, they were confronted with a life-or-death choice. The deputies initially used a Taser twice, attempting to reduce the threat. Unfortunately, these actions were ineffective. With the danger increasing, the officers on the scene had to use lethal force—each relying on their training, experience, and judgment. Tragically, Henry Zartman died from his injuries. Although the number of gunshot wounds has been highlighted by the media, it’s crucial to recognize that in dangerous situations, police use their weapons not out of intent to harm, but out of necessity—it is always a final option, employed to neutralize a threat that presents a significant risk to themselves or others.
News organizations have covered the results of the autopsy after the event. One aspect that has raised worries is the designation of the death as a murder.
I would like to explain what the term homicide refers to in a medical examiner’s report. When a medical examiner uses this term, it does not indicate that a crime has occurred or that someone acted illegally. It simply means that the actions of one individual resulted in another person’s death.
Only a limited number of official causes of death can be determined by a medical examiner:
• Natural
• Accidental
• Suicide
• Homicide
• Undetermined
In situations where law enforcement is involved, homicide is the correct medical classification – even if the use of force was legally justified. It is a clinical term, not a legal decision. The legal determination is made by the courts or the district attorney’s office, not the medical examiner.
This event, along with all other shootings involving deputies, is being thoroughly examined by the SBI and the District Attorney’s Office. We are fully cooperating, and I support my deputies’ right to protect themselves when their lives are at risk.
At the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office, we view our duty to this community with great seriousness. We will consistently take action to safeguard innocent lives when confronted with lethal force. ‘I recognize the worries this event brings up. I will always strive to keep you updated, based on the facts, and concentrate on what is truly important – public safety, trust, and the health of my deputies and all those we serve.’
We hold the loss of life in the highest regard. Each name listed in a report represents a person – a child, a friend, or a neighbor to someone. This event has had a long-term effect — not just on the Zartman family, but also on the officers who had to deal with this dangerous situation. The officers involved are still dealing with the weight of that day. I request your empathy and kindness for everyone impacted.
