A tense situation at a Kinston business ended peacefully in the early morning hours today.

At 12:12 a.m. today, Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office deputies and officers with the Kinston Police Department responded to Crown Corporation, 2000 Dobbs Farm Road, Kinston, in reference to a subject, covered in blood, entering the business. When LCSO and KPD officials arrived, they made contact with the subject in front of the plant.

The subject stated he had been assaulted at the Red Roof Inn, 301 Greenville Blvd., in Greenville and then was chased to the Crown Corporation plant in Kinston, where the subject fled on foot inside the plant. The subject stated he believed one of the suspects chasing him may have entered the building behind him with a gun.

While investigators were interviewing the subject, LCSO communications received reports of a subject inside Crown armed with a firearm. LCSO and KPD units immediately secured the outside of the business, had all Crown employees moved to a secure location and law enforcement executed a thorough search for potential suspects inside the plant.

No suspects were located during the extensive search. Law enforcement spoke with supervisors and employees at Crown and advised them it was safe to return to work.

The victim of the incident was treated by Lenoir County EMS for minor cuts and bruises; he refused transport to UNC Lenoir Health Care in Kinston and was given a courtesy ride to a family member’s residence in Lenoir County.