RALEIGH — A Robeson County felon has been sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by an additional two years for violating his federal supervised release, following a domestic violence assault that resulted in the shooting of an off-duty Dunn police officer. Daniel Wayne Locklear, 41, pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in April 2025.
“The United States will not permit violent felons to attack innocent women and citizens with guns. God bless this Dunn police officer who put his own life at risk to stop this Big Shark Bad Boy mid-crime,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Thankfully, he has recovered from being shot in the leg. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for his courage. The Dunn Police Department is righteously proud of this hero, as are we all.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on Sept. 19, 2023, a woman rushed into the Exxon Gas Station in Linden and asked the clerk to call 911. Locklear entered shortly after the woman and began yelling at her. The clerk attempted to block the woman from Locklear, but Locklear flashed a gun and pushed the clerk out of the way. Locklear then grabbed the female victim by the legs and began dragging her out of the store. Joshua Elliott, an off-duty Dunn police officer, who was also inside the gas station, attempted to de-escalate the situation and stop Locklear from leaving with the woman. Locklear drew his firearm and shot at Elliott while he fled out of the store. Elliott returned fire, striking Locklear in the forearm and abdomen. Once outside of the gas station, Locklear fired 15 rounds into the store and then fled in his car. Elliott was hit by a bullet in his upper leg, but he successfully kept Locklear from taking the woman…