On the night of September 3, 2024, at approximately 10:27 p.m., the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting in the 3000 block of Sanderosa Road in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Upon arrival, deputies discovered 46-year-old Dealton Thaggard suffering from gunshot wounds. He was promptly transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Witnesses at the scene recounted that an individual entered a gathering on Sanderosa Road and began indiscriminately firing at attendees. One 911 caller stated, "This guy came in, he just started shooting... started shooting at everybody in the party," leaving Thaggard wounded and shell casings scattered in the road.
In the days following the incident, the Sheriff's Office identified 25-year-old Cartier Savon Simpson of Fayetteville as a person of interest and sought him for questioning regarding the homicide.
On October 18, 2024, homicide detectives served a juvenile with a secure custody order, charging the individual with first-degree murder in connection to Thaggard's death. Due to the suspect's age, authorities have withheld specific details, including the name, age, and sex of the individual charged. The juvenile is currently in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.
The tragic death of Dealton Thaggard has deeply affected the Fayetteville community, prompting discussions about youth involvement in violent crimes and the importance of community engagement in preventing such incidents. The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and encourages anyone with additional information to come forward. Individuals can contact the Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit at 910-321-6592 or provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 910-483-8477.
