Trooper David Blanton Jr., age 24, was shot and killed in the line of duty last evening during a traffic stop on Interstate-40 in Haywood County.

Trooper Blanton joined the North Carolina Highway Patrol on May 11, 2006. His most recent assignment was to Haywood County.

Trooper Blanton is the 59th trooper to die in the line of duty since the formation of the Highway Patrol in 1929. He is the first trooper to be fatally assaulted since 1997. Trooper Blanton grew up in Sylva, N.C., where he graduated from Smokey Mountain High School in 2002. His first North Carolina Highway Patrol duty station was Waynesville.

Trooper Blanton leaves behind a wife and child.

If you have further questions, please call me at 919-733-5027.