By Miles Layton

God, please hear our prayers. Please keep law enforcement and citizens safe.

I suspect the devil has been getting restless and more brazen, so it has been an active day, even a busy few shifts in recent days, for law enforcement.

So, as of this writing Thursday afternoon, classes were canceled for Washington County Schools on Thursday and Friday due to anonymous threats.

Thursday morning, Manteo’s schools were temporarily on lockdown following an unfounded “swatting” threat.

Meanwhile, a person is dead after a standoff at a Martin County home on Thursday, following a vehicle pursuit that ended with shots fired at law enforcement officers, Sheriff Drew Robinson said.

The pursuit began Thursday morning and ended at a residence on Manning Road, where authorities say gunfire was directed at officers. A standoff followed.

Robinson confirmed the death Thursday afternoon but did not release the person’s identity or say how the person died. No further details about the circumstances have been made public.

The sheriff’s office later announced that the incident on Manning Road had ended and that there was no ongoing threat to the public.

Authorities have not said whether any officers were injured. More information is expected to be released as the investigation continues.

God, please hear our prayers.

In other news on Thursday, the State Bureau of Investigation is responding to an incident near the Maury Correctional Institution in Greene County, authorities said.

The scene is very active, with a large presence of law enforcement and emergency personnel. No additional details have been released.

God, please hear our prayers.

Don’t forget — Plymouth police, assisted by the SBI, are investigating a homicide at a sweepstakes gaming establishment known as the “Gameroom” at 1220 U.S. Highway 64 West. A 911 call came in around 3:57 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, reporting a man found inside who appeared to be dead. Officers and Washington County deputies responded and found the man with an apparent gunshot wound; he was dead at the scene. Police identified him as 37-year-old Sakhr Radwan Taher Maswarah and said his next of kin have been notified.

God, please hear our prayers.

Meanwhile in Bertie County, a man wanted in connection with a September homicide in that county was arrested Wednesday following a car chase, according to the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office.

The Down East Drug & Violent Crime Task Force arrested Joshua Mabine after a brief pursuit that began in Ahoskie and ended at the intersection of Jernigan Swamp Road and Williford Road.

Mabine was wanted in the Sept. 9 killing of Quadarius Holloman, which happened on Nowell Farm Road near Meadow Road, the sheriff’s office said. Fifth homicide of the year.

God, please hear our prayers. Please keep law enforcement and citizens safe.