Officer dies from shooting

(Winston-Salem Journal) - A Winston-Salem police officer died tonight at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, about 21 hours after being shot outside a bar on Jonestown Road.

Sgt. Howard J. Plouff, 41, a 17-year veteran of the department, went to the Red Rooster with other officers after a 2 a.m. call for help from sheriff's deputies. Four deputies were at the bar on off-duty security assignment when several fights broke out, police said.

Plouff died at 10:42 p.m., said Police Chief Pat Norris, who was at the hospital with him. "There were quite a few officers and his family as well," she said.