SBI agent shot by suspect in North Carolina

REIDSVILLE, N.C. (NBC, KYMA) - A North Carolina state law enforcement agent is recovering after he was shot in the leg while searching for a man suspected of firing a gun at sheriff's deputies.

The Rockingham County Sheriff's Department says a man opened fire on two deputies as they chased him through a neighborhood Saturday but neither deputy was hit.

They called the State Bureau of Investigations for backup in the search, and agents fanned through the streets and determined the alleged gunman was hiding under a house.

Before they could safely go into the crawl space to make an arrest, officials say the man came out firing again, but this time he hit a special response team agent in the leg.

That agent was taken to a hospital for treatment, and the suspect was arrested.

No word yet on why deputies were initially pursuing that suspect.