A North Carolina police officer was fatally shot Monday morning when an armed man opened fire inside a Greensboro Food Lion grocery store.

Greensboro Police Officer Michael Horan, 44, was the first to respond after a 911 call reported a suspicious, possibly armed man inside the store. Following a brief struggle, the man pulled out a gun and shot Horan before fleeing the scene by car around 11 a.m., according to a news release from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).

NEW: The man charged with killing Officer Michael Horan appears in Guilford County court

Tarell Isaac McMillian was charged with first-degree murd-r and multiple traffic violations

He is accused of entering the Food Lion on Lawndale Drive in Greensboro.(N.C) with a gun just… pic.twitter.com/OXJvxDskmG

— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) December 26, 2024

Horan “did not have time to draw or fire his weapon,” the release stated.

Approximately two hours later, authorities located the suspect driving in Johnston County. Deputies from Johnston County and Sampson County pursued the car as it entered Sutton Town. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol used a PIT maneuver on I-40 near the Duplin County line to stop the vehicle, according to the SBI.

The suspect, identified as Tarell Isaac McMillan, was taken into custody. He has been charged with first-degree murder.

Officer Horan was remembered by the Greensboro Police Department as a devoted husband and father with an “outstanding reputation” in both the department and the community.

“We ask that you please keep his family, friends, and fellow officers in your thoughts and prayers,” a department spokesperson said Monday afternoon.

Food Lion also expressed condolences in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.

“Food Lion is deeply saddened by the tragedy that occurred at our store located at 4709 Lawndale Drive, Greensboro,” the company wrote. “We express our deepest condolences to the officer’s family and friends.”

The company confirmed it is cooperating with authorities and that the store will remain closed. “We are providing resources to support our associates during this difficult time,” the statement added.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper released a statement on social media, noting he is in contact with local and state law enforcement regarding the shooting.

“We have sent significant state law enforcement personnel who are helping with the response,” Cooper said.