Mark Diaz, 21, was shot and killed during a traffic stop on May 30, 2022 Memorial Day. Mark was killed by North Carolina State Highway Trooper Rodney Cook in Siler City, NC.
At 4:37 p.m., the State Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop on a Ford pickup truck. The traffic stop was initially made for a driver seat belt violation. Rodney asked Mark how much marijuana was in the car.
During the course of the traffic stop, Rodney told Mark to get out of the truck, Mark then presented a pistol and pointed it at the state trooper. Rodney then fired his service weapon striking Mark.
A passenger in the truck ran from the scene on foot.
Authorities on scene immediately began life saving procedures until emergency medical personnel arrived. Mark was transported from the scene, but he was pronounced deceased at a later time. Rodney was not injured during the traffic stop.
Rodney will be placed on administrative duty pending an internal investigation which is agency protocol in any trooper involved shooting.
