By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Salisbury police officers in pursuit of a man recently indicted for a 2014 murder fired gunshots at his vehicle Friday. The man was not injured.

At 2 p.m. Friday, officers attempted to stop a vehicle driven by John Calvin Sifford III, 29, on Bringle Ferry Road. As officers approached the vehicle, Sifford drove away through residential property, leading officers on a brief vehicle chase.

Two officers fired multiple shots into the vehicle’s tires in an attempt to prevent Sifford’s escape, according to a police statement. Sifford continued through residential property until his vehicle crashed in front of a home on East Lafayette Street.

Sifford ran from the vehicle and was apprehended after a short foot chase..

A Rowan County grand jury returned a true bill of indictment and an arrest warrant was issued for Sifford in the Oct. 23, 2014, murder of Antonio Chambers.

Salisbury police responded to a call about shots fired at Colonial Village apartment complex that day and found Chambers, 25, dead inside a bedroom.

A woman and two children were also in the apartment at the time. None of them was hurt. Police have said Chambers did not live at the apartment

The Salisbury Police Department consulted with the State Bureau of Investigation about Friday’s police shooting. The SBI said that given the circumstances, it will not review the incident.

The officers involved, Sgt. Mike Colvin and Detective Devin Barkalow, have been placed on administrative duty pending an internal investigation.

Police say additional charges are pending in the case.

In 2010, Sifford was charged with shooting Andre Bognuda, then 18, while he was walking with a friend along Bringle Ferry Road. Bognuda was shot in the chest but survived.

At age 19, Sifford was charged for his involvement in the 2007 shooting of Treasure Feamster, who was shot in the crossfire of gang activity while attending a party for teenagers at J.C. Price American Legion Post.

In 2013, he was convicted of inciting a riot related to that incident.

Sifford has a number of previous criminal convictions including ones for felony drug possession and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.