}; Siler City, North Carolina – May 30, 2025: The North Carolina State Highway Patrol has released dash camera footage capturing the moments a routine traffic stop escalated into a fatal shooting involving a state trooper and a 21-year-old man in Chatham County. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. and began as a stop for a seatbelt violation.
According to authorities, Trooper Rodney Cook initiated a traffic stop on a pickup truck driven by 21-year-old Mark Diaz of Staley. The stop took place on a rural stretch of road in Chatham County. Dashcam video shows Cook approaching the vehicle and attempting to engage Diaz in conversation. When asked for identification, Diaz failed to produce an ID. As the interaction continued, Trooper Cook reportedly observed signs that suggested possible drug use, which prompted him to escalate the stop and request that Diaz exit the vehicle.
The situation took a sudden and dangerous turn when Diaz, instead of complying with the order to exit unarmed, pulled a pistol from inside the truck. The dashcam video shows Diaz holding the firearm as he began stepping out of the driver’s seat. Trooper Cook quickly attempted to deflect or block the weapon and then retreated toward his patrol vehicle in an effort to gain a tactical position and protect himself from harm.
As Diaz continued to exit the vehicle with the gun in hand, Cook fired his service weapon. At nearly the same moment, the truck—still in gear—rolled forward a short distance before stalling out. A passenger, who had been in the vehicle with Diaz, is seen in the footage fleeing the scene on foot immediately after the shot was fired. According to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS), the passenger later returned to the scene and cooperated with investigators.
The video then shows Diaz lying on the pavement near the truck. Despite being down, he was still visibly holding the pistol. From a position of safety near his patrol car, Trooper Cook shouted repeated commands for Diaz to drop the weapon. After several commands and with caution, Cook approached the wounded man, disarmed him, and secured the firearm.
Immediately after retrieving the weapon, Cook radioed for emergency medical assistance and backup. Without waiting, the trooper began administering life-saving measures on Diaz at the scene, attempting to stabilize him until emergency responders could arrive. Medical personnel from EMS responded shortly thereafter and transported Diaz to a nearby hospital.
Despite the efforts made both at the scene and at the hospital, Diaz succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead a short time after arrival. No officers or other civilians were physically harmed during the incident.
Following standard procedure in officer-involved shootings, Trooper Cook was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol emphasized that this step is routine and allows for a full and impartial review of the trooper’s actions.
The dashcam video, which has now been made public, is being reviewed by the State Bureau of Investigation as part of its independent inquiry. The footage will also be central to determining whether the use of force was consistent with state law and departmental policy.
Officials have urged the public to reserve judgment until all facts have been gathered and the investigation is complete. The Highway Patrol stated it is committed to transparency and accountability and will release further updates as they become available.
This incident highlights the risks law enforcement officers face during what may initially appear to be routine traffic stops. It also underscores the importance of compliance and communication during encounters between the public and police.
