John Livingston, a 33-year-old man from Spring Lake, NC, was shot and killed by a Harnett County sheriff's deputy on November 15, 2015. The incident occurred on the front porch of Livingston's home during the early hours of the morning. Deputies arrived at Livingston's residence around 3:30 AM, reportedly in search of another individual. When Livingston informed the deputies that the person they were looking for did not live there and refused to allow them entry without a warrant, an
altercation ensued.
According to witnesses, the deputies kicked down the door and a struggle followed. Livingston was reportedly maced, tased multiple times, and ultimately shot four times on his front porch. The deputy involved in the shooting was identified as Nicholas Kehagias, who had been with the Harnett County Sheriff's Office since July 2013. Kehagias claimed that he was forced to shoot Livingston when Livingston reached for his Taser during the altercation. However, witnesses disputed this account, stating that Livingston never had control of the Taser.
Following the incident, Kehagias was placed on administrative leave while the State Bureau of Investigation conducted an investigation. An autopsy revealed that Livingston had alcohol and cocaine in his system at the time of his death and that he had been shot three times from an "indeterminate/distant range". Despite the controversy surrounding the shooting, a grand jury declined to indict Kehagias on any criminal charges.
In the aftermath of Livingston's death, his family and friends expressed their grief and anger, questioning the actions of the deputies and the use of excessive force. Livingston's family filed a civil lawsuit against the Harnett County Sheriff's Office, alleging a pattern of excessive use of force. In June 2021, the Sheriff's Office agreed to a $6 million settlement with six families, including Livingston's, who had charged the office with excessive use of force. Kehagias resigned from the Harnett County Sheriff's Office in June 2016, citing the environment created by media coverage and community reactions as reasons for his resignation. He later found employment as a sheriff's deputy in Pender County.
Livingston's death left a lasting impact on his family, friends, and the community. His loved ones continue to seek answers and justice for what they believe was an unjustified and excessive use of force by law enforcement.
