By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man who police say held five people hostage at Harris Teeter last week and was shot by a Salisbury police officer remained in critical but stable condition Monday.

The Salisbury Police Department said Cody Maxwell Schimmels, 30, walked into the supermarket on West Jake Alexander Boulevard about 11:30 p.m. Thursday armed with a handgun. Four employees were in the store along with the spouse of one employee.

When police officers arrived, they determined that a robbery was in progress.

A police crisis negotiator tried to persuade Schimmels to surrender, but he did not. When he pointed the gun at an employee, Sgt. Daniel Lancaster, a member of the special response team, fired his department-issued rifle, striking Schimmels.

Schimmels was given first aid by police officers and a Rowan EMS crew. All of the hostages were evacuated and were not injured.

Schimmels was taken to Novant Rowan Medical Center and then airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, where he remains.

Police said Friday that Schimmels was in critical and unstable condition. Officials said Monday evening that Schimmels remains in critical condition but is stable.

Officer Lancaster is on desk duty pending the investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation. The Salisbury Police Department is investigating the robbery, and the SBI is working to determine whether the shooting was justified.

Police Chief Jerry Stokes called the officer’s actions brave, and he commended Lancaster for acting with restraint.

This is the fourth shooting involving a Salisbury police officer since 2016.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.