The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office identified the name of a man killed in a shootout with officers this morning as Reginald Lamont Epps.

Chief Deputy Wes Tripp said he did not know how many times officers inside the Straight Road residence fired at Epps as the State Bureau of Investigation is handling that portion of the inquiry.

Four officers entered the residence, located in a mobile home court off Highway 48 outside Roanoke Rapids. They were there to serve a narcotics search warrant.

Asked if the officers knocked on the door or kicked it in, Tripp said, “They served the search warrant properly.”

It was unclear whether Epps was asleep or already up when the deputies came around 8 a.m. this morning.

When the officers were inside Epps apparently fired at them with an unknown type weapon.

Detective H.L. Williams and narcotics Agent A.M. Harris returned fire using their .40-caliber semiautomatic weapons.

Tripp said Deputy Matt Brown sprained his hand. It is believed, but not confirmed, that Brown sprained his hand while trying to protect Williams.

The SBI continues to conduct interviews and will make a final report to the district attorney’s office. Tripp said it is not clear why the federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was at the scene. The sheriff’s office did not request them, he said.

Tripp said he was not sure how highly placed Epps allegedly was in the local narcotics trade.

Williams and Harris are currently on leave with pay. Both are doing well, Tripp said.

Tripp said the sheriff’s office stands behind the officers. “The officers responded as trained and performed as they were trained. It’s unfortunate circumstances but we feel like the deputies were doing their job.”