Craig Handzel Cause Of Death: SBI IDs armed man fatally shot by Cumberland County deputy.
Craig Handzel Cause Of Death – The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has identified the man who was fatally shot by a Cumberland County sheriff’s deputy in Fayetteville late Sunday evening as Craig Handzel, a resident of Pitt County.
According to officials and eyewitnesses, the events began when Handzel allegedly started a small brush fire in a field near Claude Lee Road, close to the Fayetteville Regional Airport. Firefighters from the Pearce’s Mill Fire Department responded quickly and were able to extinguish the flames. However, after arriving on the scene, they noticed that Handzel was armed with a firearm and immediately requested law enforcement assistance.
Neighbors recalled the tense moments. One resident, Isaac Murphy, stated he noticed Handzel holding a gun and decided not to approach him for safety reasons. Murphy stressed that his only concern was ensuring the safety of the neighborhood. Shortly after the fire department’s call, deputies from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the area and located Handzel nearby on Catherine Drive.
Murphy said he saw Handzel lying on his back by a bush, still holding a handgun against his chest. Despite multiple commands from deputies instructing Handzel to drop his weapon, authorities say he refused to comply. This led to a fatal encounter where shots were fired by Deputy J.C. Murray, the only deputy to discharge his weapon during the incident.
Eyewitness Andrea Wirts, who was visiting her mother nearby, said she initially mistook the sound of gunfire for fireworks, estimating she heard between six to eight shots. Her sister, however, suspected immediately that the sounds were gunshots.
In the wake of the incident, four deputies have been placed on administrative leave while the SBI continues its investigation. Deputy J.C. Murray, who has been with the department since June 2023, is confirmed as the deputy who fired his weapon. Authorities have not released the names of the other deputies involved, nor have they confirmed exactly how many shots were fired.
Social media posts attributed to Craig Handzel suggest he was affiliated with a motorcycle group that supports active-duty military personnel and veterans in eastern North Carolina, indicating his connection to the veteran community. However, no further details about his background or the motive behind his actions have been released.
As of now, the investigation remains active, and the SBI has not provided a timeline for when further information might be made public. The family of Handzel has declined to make any public statements regarding the incident.
