North Carolina teacher killed while trying to rob drug cartel stash house, police say

A beloved basketball coach and teacher in North Carolina was killed in a shootout while he and his brother-in-law attempted to rob a Mexican drug cartel’s stash house, police said.

Despite his popularity at Union Academy in Monroe, Barney Harris was also involved in the “dangerous and deadly” drug world, Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson said during a press conference on Wednesday.

He was among a group of several people accused of breaking into a a trailer at a mobile home park in Green Level, an alleged “stash house” belonging to a member of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

The criminal enterprise is well-known as one of world’s most powerful drug trafficking organizations.

Authorities responded to the residence on April 8 just before 1 a.m. after receiving reports of gunfire in the area, according to a press release from the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office. When they arrived on the scene, officers found Harris, who was wearing a bullet proof vest, dead on the scene.

Another victim, identified by deputies as Alonso Beltran Lara, was transported to the hospital where he later died. Authorities believe he served as a runner for the cartel.

Following a preliminary investigations, officers were able to determine Harris broke into Lara’s mobile home, and then waited for him to come back, according to the sheriff. Upon his return, a shooting broke out and quickly turned deadly.

“It was almost like an old Western shootout,” Johnson said.

No other injuries were reported, but three other trailers were struck by bullets.