SBI identifies armed man shot and killed by Cumberland County sheriff's deputy

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has released the name of the man shot and killed by a Cumberland County deputy in Fayetteville late Sunday evening.

On Tuesday, the SBI said the man was Craig Handzel. According to public records, Handzel was a resident of Pitt County.

According to eyewitness accounts from residents in the 4000 block of Airline Drive in Fayetteville, near the airport, Handzel started a small brush fire in a field near Claude Lee Road. When members of Pearce's Mill Fire Department arrived, they quickly put out the flames.

However, they quickly called for backup from the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office after they noticed Handzel had a firearm.

"Once I saw he had the gun. Me, personally, I have no reason to go over there. I'm not going to endanger myself when I just want to make sure the neighborhood is safe," said resident Isaac Murphy.

Stay on top of breaking news stories with the ABC11 News App

Moments later, per Murphy, deputies from the sheriff's office arrived and found Handzel nearby on Catherine Drive. "I saw him on the ground by the bush laying on his back with a handgun in his chest," said Murphy.

According to the sheriff's office, Handzel refused to comply with verbal commands from the deputy to put down his weapon.

"We heard pa, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. About six to eight. And I thought it was fireworks. And my sister said, 'No, I think those were shots,'" said Andrea Wirts, who was visiting her mother at the time.

On Tuesday, the SBI told ABC11 that four deputies have been placed on leave as the incident is under investigation. However, deputy J.C. Murray was the only law enforcement officer to discharge a weapon. The Sheriff's Office said Deputy Murray has been with the agency since June 2023.

What's also unclear is how many shots were fired, along with the name of the other deputies involved.

According to information posted to Handzel's Facebook page, he was also a member of a motorcycle group for active duty military and veterans in eastern North Carolina.

Handzel's family declined to comment.

ABC11 is tracking crime and safety across Fayetteville and in your neighborhood