On November 1, 2021, the Moore County Sheriff’s Office requested the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to investigate the shooting of Erica Catalan in the 400 block of East Lindale Drive in Robbins. Cristian Rebollar Rosas, an off-duty Robbins Police Officer, fired his service weapon in the house.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation conducted a thorough investigation and tendered a report to the Moore County District Attorney’s Office on May 16, according to Moore County District Attorney Mike Hardin in a press release.
“After a review of this investigation, it appears from all witness accounts that Mr. Rosas returned home from his shift at the Robbins Police Department in his uniform and carrying his loaded firearm,” said Hardin. “Mr. Rosas entered his residence. Ms. Catalan the landlord was speaking with Mr. Rosas’s father in the living room.
“Mr. Rosas went to a bedroom inside the residence and began unloading his firearm. Mr. Rosas indicated that he believed that he had properly unloaded the firearm before “dry firing” the weapon. However, the weapon had not been properly cleared and when Mr. Rosas attempted to “dry fire” the weapon, he actually fired a round that passed through the wall of the residence striking Ms. Catalan in the living room.
“There was no evidence that the shooting was an intentional assault on Ms. Catalan. All evidence presented and statements taken appeared to support an accidental shooting of Ms. Catalan.”
Under North Carolina law, there is no criminal statute that pertains to a negligent or accidental discharge of a firearm resulting in injury. Therefore, although this incident may amount to a negligent discharge of a firearm, it does not violate North Carolina criminal law, according to Hardin.
