Highway Patrol wants video released after 21-year-old NC man fatally shot by trooper

The State Highway Patrol will seek the release of dash camera video after a state trooper fatally shot a 21-year-old man during a traffic-stop in Chatham County on Memorial Day.

“I can confirm that we do not operate body worn cameras,” Sgt. Chris Knox said by email Wednesday morning. “We do utilize in car cameras that as stated in this incident captured events related to the shooting. I do know that our agency is in the process of filing a petition for the release of the video, but that process does take time to complete.”

Mark Anthony Diaz was fatally shot Monday afternoon after Trooper Rodney N. Cook stopped a Ford pickup truck on Harmony Drive near Solo Drive in Siler City for a seatbelt violation, according to a State Highway Patrol news release.

“During the course of the traffic stop, the suspect presented a pistol and the member fired his service weapon striking the suspect,” the release stated.

Authorities identified the dead man as Diaz, of Staley, a town of a few hundred people in Randolph County northeast of Siler City.

Authorities on the scene began life-saving procedures until emergency medical personnel arrived and took the driver from the scene, but he later died, the release stated.

Cook was not injured during the traffic stop.

A passenger ran from the traffic stop but later returned to the scene during the investigation, the release stated.

Cook, a 16-year Highway Patrol veteran stationed in Troop D, District 1 (Chatham County), will be placed on administrative duty pending an internal investigation, which is routine in trooper-involved shootings.

Brother wants answers

Under North Carolina law, a law enforcement agency cannot publicly release video in its own.

Instead it must petition a judge for the release, which the judge rules on during a public hearing after reviewing the footage. A law enforcement agency can also oppose the release of video, typically if it thinks the release could hurt its investigation.

ABC11, The News & Observer’s media partner, spoke with Moises Diaz, who said he wants to know why his brother was killed.

”I do want some answers, because an officer is, even if they have a gun, they are meant to detain a person, not kill,” Moises Diaz told the station.

The news release provided no more details and directed questions to the State Bureau of Investigation, which will review the incident.

The News & Observer sent follow-up questions to both agencies asking for more information, including whether Diaz was in or out of the truck when he was shot, and whether he was holding the weapon or it was just visible during the stop.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Other shootings by law enforcement

This is at least the seventh shooting by law enforcement officers in the Triangle area this year, all but one of them fatal.

There have been two fatal shootings by Raleigh police.

There also have been two shootings by Durham police, one of them fatal; one fatal shooting by a Durham County sheriff’s deputy; and one fatal shooting by a Duke campus police officer, The News & Observer has reported.

This story was originally published May 31, 2022 at 8:06 AM.