North Carolina trooper indicted for murder of sheriff's captain in domestic dispute
A North Carolina state trooper has been indicted for the first-degree murder of a county sheriff's captain shot dead in March. The case is an extremely rare instance of one officer killing another.
State trooper indicted over fatal shooting of sheriff's captain in Hope Mills
A North Carolina state highway patrol trooper has been indicted on a charge of first-degree murder following the shooting death of a county sheriff's office captain, theguardian.com reports.
Cumberland County Captain Adam Bean was shot and killed on 27 March at a home in the town of Hope Mills. A grand jury on Tuesday indicted Nekime Matu Oxendine, 44, on the murder charge, and a judge ordered him held without bond pending the outcome of the case.
The incident represents an extremely rare instance of one law enforcement officer killing another. Research indicates such cases are highly uncommon, and when they do occur they are most often linked to inadvertent friendly fire or mistaken identity.
Search warrants obtained by North Carolina news station WTVD in May identified Oxendine as a state highway patrol sergeant who, according to a witness, fired the shots. That witness, an employee of the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, told investigators that Bean arrived home and became upset after seeing Oxendine's truck parked outside.
Investigators said Oxendine emerged from the house carrying a gun and fired one shot into the ground. Moments later, he allegedly opened fire again, striking Bean with several rounds.
Bean was found lying on his back in the front yard. When police arrived, Tara Lynn Whitman — who reportedly had relationships with both Bean and Oxendine — was performing CPR on Bean, while Oxendine remained nearby. Bean was pronounced dead at the scene.
Court filings from state investigators indicate the fatal encounter came after years of mounting tension involving Bean, Oxendine and their respective relationships with Whitman. Investigators said Oxendine had displayed persistent jealousy and insecurity over the years regarding Whitman's connection with Bean.
Oxendine remains on administrative leave.
Bean had served with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office for 20 years. His survivors include his son, parents and two siblings. On Wednesday, he was posthumously awarded a merit award recognising his service and lasting contributions to the agency.
In a Facebook post, the sheriff's office wrote that Bean's "efforts helped strengthen the agency's ability to recruit, retain, and support highly qualified personnel while contributing directly to the continued effectiveness of public safety operations throughout Cumberland," adding that "his legacy continues through the many contributions he made to this agency and the people he served."
Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)