Dashcam Captures Trooper Shooting Armed Man

A routine traffic stop on a North Carolina highway quickly became a life-threatening encounter when a state trooper discovered that the driver was armed. What began with a roadside check escalated within moments, leaving the trooper facing a man holding a firearm.

The incident occurred on May 30, 2022, in Siler City, North Carolina, and dashcam footage later released by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol captured the confrontation.

 

 

 

THE TRAFFIC STOP BEGINS

State Trooper Rodney Cook stopped a white Ford pickup after observing that the driver and passenger were not wearing seat belts.

The trooper approached the vehicle and asked the driver for identification. According to police, the driver, identified as 21-year-old Mark Anthony Diaz, said he did not have identification.

The interaction remained a traffic stop at first, but another detail soon changed the situation. Trooper Cook said he smelled marijuana and asked Diaz to step out of the vehicle.

THE DRIVER REVEALS A GUN

As the trooper continued the encounter, Diaz allegedly pulled a firearm from the vehicle.

The dashcam footage shows the weapon appearing through the window as Cook attempted to move away from the immediate threat. Diaz then stepped out of the vehicle while still holding the gun.

THE TRAFFIC STOP HAD SUDDENLY BECOME AN ARMED CONFRONTATION.

The footage provides a direct view of the rapidly developing encounter from the patrol vehicle's camera.

 

 

 

THE TROOPER OPENS FIRE

As Diaz exited with the firearm, Cook fired his service weapon.

Diaz was struck and fell to the ground. The pickup began rolling down the roadway while the passenger ran away from the scene.

According to ABC News' account of the released footage, NO SHOTS WERE FIRED AT COOK during the encounter. Investigators were also examining the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

THE TROOPER SECURES THE WEAPON

After the shooting, Cook approached Diaz and removed the firearm from his hands.

Rather than immediately leaving the scene, the trooper began providing emergency assistance while requesting additional officers and medical personnel.

Diaz was transported for medical treatment but was later pronounced dead. The passenger eventually returned to the scene and cooperated with investigators, according to North Carolina authorities.

 

 

 

THE DASHCAM BECOMES KEY EVIDENCE

The released footage provided investigators and the public with a visual record of the encounter.

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety said Cook was placed on administrative duty while the shooting was investigated. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation also conducted an independent investigation.

The footage shows how quickly the circumstances changed: a seat-belt-related traffic stop became a confrontation involving a firearm, followed by a police shooting and emergency medical response.