Man killed by Rowan County deputies identified

Published 9:42 am Wednesday, February 15, 2023

The Rowan County man who was killed during an officer-involved shooting on Thriftwood Avenue on Tuesday afternoon has been identified.

Jordan Taylor Mays was confirmed as the victim by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday.

Deputies for the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office were reportedly serving a warrant for Mays around 5 p.m. when an altercation occurred. According to the Rowan County Court Clerk’s Office, Mays was wanted in Davidson County for felony violation of probation. Sometime during the attempt to serve the outstanding warrant, at least one deputy drew and discharged their firearm.

Mays was struck at least once and died from the wounds. Details surrounding the shooting remain unclear, but the sheriff’s office has said it is reviewing all evidence and information and the State Bureau of Investigations is also investigating, which is standard protocol any time an officer is involved in a shooting.

No officers were injured during the exchange.

Investigators worked at the scene, which is located off Leonard Road in the northeast part of Rowan County, well into the night.

The matter remains under investigation, and an official narrative of the events that preceded Mays’ death has not been made public. The story will be updated as new information becomes available.