GREENSBORO, N.C. (WTVD) — Greensboro Police Officer Michael Horan was killed just two days before Christmas while responding to a call at a Food Lion.

Horan was called to the Food Lion store on Lawndale Drive just off Interstate 840 in north Greensboro after reports came in just before 11 a.m. of a man with a gun in the store.

The State Bureau of Investigation said Horan encountered the gunman shortly after arriving and a brief struggle ensued. The man then pulled out a gun and shot the officer before getting into a car and driving away. Horan did not have time to draw or fire his weapon, the SBI said.

“The circumstances leading up to the shooting are currently under investigation,” Deputy Police Chief MJ Harris said during a news conference Monday afternoon.

Horan was hired in 2017 and became a sworn officer in 2018. Greensboro police said he was an “excellent” officer with an outstanding reputation. He was also a husband and father.

Memorials were erected in his honor at police headquarters. One is outside and the other is in the main lobby.

The Greensboro Police Officer Association has launched a fundraising campaign online. The donations will go toward supporting Horan’s family in times of need.

“We want to thank our community for continuing to support our officers and their families during this difficult time,” Harris said.

Horan served in the department’s patrol division. He was also a member of the U.S. Coast Guard since 2000, according to his LinkedIn profile and other sources.

The North Carolina Sheriff’s Association called the shooting “a senseless tragedy,” adding that it “illustrates the dangers police officers face every day in the line of duty.”

The identity of the person accused of shooting Horan has not been released. However, that individual was taken into police custody without incident following a high-speed chase.

ABC11 sources said the chase, which ended several hours after the Food Lion shooting and 150 miles away in Duplin County, was related to the case.

According to the SBI, the chase began in Johnston County when officers spotted the suspect vehicle and began pursuing it. Sampson County deputies joined in and then the Highway Patrol took over.

The chase ended at Exit 355 (NC-403) near Warsaw at the Duplin County Line.

The SBI said charges are still pending.

Food Lion released the following statement regarding the incident:

“Food Lion is deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at our store at 4709 Lawndale Drive, Greensboro. Because this is an active investigation, we are directing all questions to local law enforcement. Food Lion is cooperating with authorities and the store remains closed while the police investigation continues. We are providing resources to support our employees during this difficult time.

Greensboro police have asked the State Bureau of Investigation to take the lead in this case.

Gov. Roy Cooper said on He added that he was grateful for Horan’s “courageous, dedicated service.”

The shooting is another reminder that state lawmakers should bolster resources and improve safety for law enforcement officers, said Democratic Sen. Michael Garrett, who represents part of Guilford County where Greensboro is located.

“At a time of joy and celebration, another brave officer has been shot dead in the line of duty. Another family’s holiday season has been changed forever,” Garrett said in a statement.

Horan is the second Greensboro police officer killed in the past 12 months. Officer Philip Dale Nix was off-duty when he was shot at a supermarket in Sheetz on December 30, 2023 while attempting to stop a crime in progress. Three people were arrested in Nix’s shooting.

Akilah Davis of ABC11 and The Associated Press contributed.