Watauga County Sheriff’s Office announces with great sadness the line of duty death of Deputy William Mast, Jr. on Thursday morning July 26, 2012. Deputy Mast was responding to a call when he was fatally shot. Deputy Mast is survived by his wife, Paige Mast who is expecting a child; William Hunter Mast. Funeral services for Deputy Mast will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 31 at Mount Vernon Baptist Church. Masonic graveside services and burial with law enforcement honors will follow at the Mast Family Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the William Hunter Mast Scholarship Fund, in care of Highland Union Bank, 1013 NC Hwy 105, Boone, NC 28607. The family will receive friends 6-9 p.m. Monday evening, July 30 at Mount Vernon Baptist Church. Online condolences may be sent to the Mast family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. For additional information, please contact the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office at (828) 264-3761. Deputy Mast was killed early Thursday morning responding to a call on Hardin Road in Deep Gap. According to a statement issued by Watauga County Sheriff Len Hagaman, shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday morning, Deputy William Mast, Jr., and another WCSO Deputy responded to a call at 2130 Hardin Road. "Upon arrival at the residence on Hardin Road, a suspect opened fire on Watauga County Sheriff's Deputies wounding one deputy - the other deputy immediately returned fire and struck the suspect," read the statement. "I am deeply saddened to report that Watauga County Sheriff's Office Deputy William Mast, Jr., was fatally wounded as a result of the injuries he sustained in the shooting. Hagaman said the suspect was killed in the return fire. "It is a sad day for Watauga County Sheriff's Office and the Watauga County community as Officer Mast was a friend and asset to our force and to his community," read the statement.