On November 27, 2023, at approximately 10:42 p.m., 40-year-old Jossiel Rodriguez-Perez was fatally shot in the 3000 block of Smith Road in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Rodriguez-Perez, a U.S. Army veteran who served with the 82nd Airborne Division, was attempting to recover a stolen trailer equipped with GPS tracking. Accompanied by friends, he located the trailer's signal on Smith Road. Upon arrival, the suspected thieves opened fire, striking Rodriguez-Perez.
He was transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation into the homicide. In early December 2023, authorities sought two individuals for questioning: 28-year-old Zachary Michael Locklear from Autryville and an unidentified woman. Their connection to the case was not publicly detailed.
By December 8, 2023, the stolen red trailer was recovered. Despite this development, no arrests had been made, and the investigation remained active. The Sheriff's Office continued to urge anyone with information to contact Homicide Detective Sergeant J. McLeod at (910) 677-5548 or Crimestoppers at (910) 483-TIPS (8477).
Rodriguez-Perez was remembered by his wife, Claudia, as a joyful and social individual, known for being the life of the party. He was a dedicated family man, present for his children, and worked as a general manager at a Fayetteville-area McDonald's. His untimely death left his family and the Fayetteville community in mourning, seeking justice for the senseless act of violence.
