Man Shot in Struggle with Police Officer

A Rural Hall man was shot Sunday morning during  a struggle with Winston-Salem Police Officer Larry Blevins. 

Blevins was on foot patrol about 8:00 AM, when he encountered 35-year-old Victor Fortune of Rural Hall, in the 1500 block of Liberty Street.  Police say Blevins suspected that Fortune may have been in possession of illegal narcotics, and tried to identify and detain him.  Fortune, though, resisted and attempted to run.  At that point, Blevins deployed a Taser, but Fortune continued to run.  The chase took them into a wooded area behind a Citgo station at 1522 North Liberty Street.

There was another struggle, during which Fortune got possession of Blevins' Taser.  At that point, the police report says, the officer was able to draw his gun, and fired two rounds, one of which struck Fortune in the leg. He was taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries. 

Fortune has been charged with Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana, Possession with Intent to Sell and Distribute Cocaine, Resisting and Obstructing a Police Officer, and Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer.

He was also served with a dozen outstanding warrants.  Blevins is on administrative duty while the internal investigation is conducted, which is standard procedure in officer-related shootings.