The funeral of Michael Sipes, the 17-year-old police shot and killed Sunday night, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Grace Baptist Church, 1939 Paul Shuping Ave. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Sossoman Funeral Home.
Lucy Bentley, Sipes’ grandmother, said Sipes was a sweet young man who was helpful and kept others in mind.
Sipes was born in Morganton, but spent about three years in Baton Rouge, La., Bentley said. It was there that he joined the Young Marines program and developed a passion for volunteering.
Bentley said Sipes volunteered at Burke United Christian Ministries and the Outreach Center. He was also active in Grace Baptist Church’s youth group.
“He was very loving,” Bentley said. “But he was kind of shy.”
His shyness didn’t keep him from playing golf, fishing and hunting.
Bentley said Sipes engaged in those activities every chance he got starting when he was a small child.
His plans to join the U.S. Army started during his childhood, too, Bentley said. He established that as a goal in elementary school and had hoped to join the Army immediately after graduating from high school.
Sipes was a student at Freedom High School and active in ROTC.
Earlier this week a crisis team was available at the school for students and staff seeking counseling regarding Sipes’ death.
Freedom Principal Ken Prichard said some students have written cards and expressed their love for Sipes. The school will show the visitation and funeral arrangements via closed circuit television.
JROTC Commander Terry Connelly and some of the cadets prepared a suit and shadow box filled with Sipes’ ROTC medals and pins for Kimberly Sipes, Michael Sipes’ mother, Prichard said.
Prichard, Connelly and two teachers delivered those items to Kimberly Sipes on Wednesday.
Sipes died Sunday night after Morganton Public Safety officers responded to his residence in Independence Park on Air Park Drive for an unknown disturbance.
Witnesses said they never heard the two police officers identify themselves.
Public Safety officials said Sipes opened the door holding a long gun.
That’s when a police officer shot Sipes.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations is conducting the investigation. Officials said the investigation is looking into Public Safety Officer Johnny Cooper II’s role in the incident.
Memorial contributions for Sipes’ family may be made to Sossoman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 2608, Morganton, NC to help with funeral expenses. Condolences may be made online at www.sossomanfuneralservice.com.
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