Fayetteville police officer shoots, kills man during traffic stop on Thanksgiving

A man was shot and killed during a traffic stop and altercation with a police officer Thursday afternoon in Fayetteville.

According to the Fayetteville Police Department, officers conducted a traffic stop in the 2000 block of Murchison Road. During the stop, police said an altercation occurred between the driver and officers.

The altercation resulted in an officer discharging his weapon, according to police. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Friday, police identified the man killed as Demarcus Brodie. Brodie was 49 years old.

Dillion Hoke, a member of the Fayetteville police department since 2016, was the officer involved. Hoke was released from the hospital and is now on administrative leave.

Fayetteville Police Chief Kem Braden said officers tried to detain Brodie at first. Brodie resisted their efforts and began assaulting officers. Officers tried to de-escalate the situation. As Brodie continued to assault the officers, Hoke discharged his weapon.

A woman claiming to be the aunt of Brodie spoke with WRAL News Thursday night and said she wants to know why they shot and killed him.

"They could have shot him anywhere, but to his chest?" Anita McSwain said. "I want to know what happened, and my soul will not rest until I find out what happened to my nephew."

Many upset family members were at the scene, not expecting to spend their Thanksgiving mourning the loss of a family member.

"I'm hurt," McSwain said. "It's Thanksgiving, and I'm hurt."

Brodie was the only person inside the vehicle and a knife was found at the scene. Braden said Brodie did have a criminal history, but did not expand upon his previous charges.

The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is investigating the shooting.