Shaqur McNair, 16

Fayetteville, North Carolina
October 14, 2013

Agencies: Fayetteville Police Department North Carolina

Cause of death: Shooting

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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

The mother of a 16-year-old boy who was fatally shot by a Fayetteville police officer is disputing authorities' claims that her son had a gun.

Shaqur McNair died at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Sunday after Officer Christopher Hunt fired at the teen while responding to a domestic disturbance call on Bertram Place sometime after 6 p.m.

Police Chief Harold Medlock told reporters Sunday that Hunt was trying to take McNair's mother, Africka Bennett, into custody after she hit him on the head.

The two were struggling on the ground when McNair ignored Hunt's commands to back away and pulled up his shirt and began to draw the handgun from his waistband, Medlock said.

Hunt fired at least three rounds.

Fayetteville police said Officer Christopher Hunt initially responded to a domestic dispute at a house when things quickly got out of hand.

A caller to 911 told a dispatcher, "I need a police to meet me in Loch Lomond. I got a man who jumped on my daughter."

Police said when Hunt arrived at the scene, he arrested a man involved in the domestic dispute. However, as he was putting the suspect in the car, the suspect's mother, 39-year-old Alfricka Bennett, attacked him.

Police said when Hunt tried to arrest Bennett, her 16 year old son, Shaqur McNair, and several others confronted him.

"There were four shots fired," said another 911 caller. "There's a bunch of kids hanging over in Loch Lomond.

Hunt can also be heard frantically calling for backup.

"I need more units," he said.

"The dude with the hoodie, the one who got shot, he had his hands out. The police officer told him to get on the ground. He didn't, so the police officer shot him," said an eyewitness.

The eyewitness said the victim was unarmed when he was shot, but Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock reported a different story.

Rogers said he and the family have reviewed the State Bureau of Investigation's report that was turned over to the Cumberland County District Attorney's Office in June. It is not public record. Rogers said key, unbiased witness accounts were excluded, as well as electronic evidence supporting the police account of what happened.

"We know that Officer Hunt was the first person on the scene, but we also know that his audio and video were not working, and only begun to work immediately after the shooting," said Rogers.

Rogers also said there is no evidence linking the teen to a stolen handgun that was later recovered from the scene. Police said McNair pulled his shirt up, and flashed the weapon, prompting Hunt to shoot.

"However, the report has no evidence of fingerprints on that gun tying it to Shaqur McNair," said Rogers.

 

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