Questions about local police shooting of armed man after video leaked
FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- Video leaked online by the website "The Intercept" appears to show a Fayetteville police officer shooting an armed suspect in the back as he's running away.
Click to watch the video. Warning video is graphic.
It happened on January 24, 2013. Around 6 a.m. that morning, Officer Aaron Hunt attempted to stop 22-year-old Nijza Lamar Hagans at the intersection of South Virginia Avenue and Morganton Road for running a red light. But Hagans kept going down South Virginia Avenue before stopping at a dead end.
According to a memo from Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West obtained by The Intercept, Hunt saw Hagans reach for a gun in his pants pocket as he opened his car door.
The dash cam video from Hunt's patrol car shows the door open very suddenly and Hunt open fire. You can hear three shots fired and then Hagan turns and runs towards the side of a building.
As he's running, Hunt fired two more shots at his back.
As is standard in any police shooting, Hunt was placed on administrative leave and the SBI investigated. After reviewing the case, West concluded that Hunt's response was "lawful and measured."
The fatal shooting is now part of a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Hagans' father.
The lawsuit claims the shooting was unjustified, and occurred at a time when the Fayetteville Police Department was under fire over allegations of racial profiling, and using excessive force.
Police Chief Harold Medlock took over the department a month later in February 2013. A month after the shooting, he called in the Department of Justice to examine the department's procedures and policies.
The DOJ held workshops for officers and met with area citizens to get their input on the community's expectations and priorities of the police. At one of those meetings Thursday night, a DOJ official said that 2013 police shooting is part of their investigation.
"We are obviously concerned. We want to hear from the community what perspectives they have on it," said Robert Chapman, with the Department of Justice. "Obviously, it's important, if it's important to the community. That specific case is part of our five-year review that we are covering. In addition to that case, we are looking at all use of force over a five-year period."
After reviewing the case, West cleared Hunt saying because Hagans had a loaded .380 handgun, the officer's response was "lawful and measured."
West and Medlock declined comment to ABC11 Thursday night.
Click to watch the entire traffic stop video
