WRAL has uncovered new details about the suspect in a deadly standoff in Chatham County.
A closer look reveals a lengthy criminal history for 50-year-old Kevin Hammer, who died on Tuesday during an incident in the 8200 block of Pittsboro Goldston Road.
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WRAL News found active warrants for Hammer's arrest in pending cases in Chatham and Lee counties.
Hammer had pending drug and driving-related charges in Lee County. He also had more serious pending charges in Chatham County from November.
According to arrest warrants, he was charged with resisting a public officer, communicating threats after telling a deputy, "I'll beat you up," and assault with a deadly weapon after firing a gunshot and telling a victim after an argument, "If you ever do that again, I won't miss."
In that case, Hammer was also charged with felony possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm by a felon and drug-related charges.
The Chatham County warrant for his arrest was issued Monday, saying Hammer had a pretrial violation. Hammer also had charges pending in Moore and Randolph counties.
Chatham County deputy senior deputy Matthew Mitchell was also shot in the standoff, but he's expected to be OK.
We have reached out to the Chatham County Sheriff's Office with questions, including how Hammer died, whether body cameras were activated, and what the hostage's relationship was to Hammer. We have not heard back from any of them.
The sheriff's office said the incident began as an armed standoff at a residence. They said deputies breached the home after they became concerned for the hostage's safety, adding that the hostage was rescued. Hammer's cause of death is not known.
