Prosecutors won’t seek death penalty against state trooper indicted in murder of deputy

FAYETTEVILLE, NC (WTVD) — Prosecutors will not seek the death penalty against a North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a Cumberland County sheriff’s captain.

According to court records, prosecutors notified the court that they do not intend to pursue capital punishment against 44-year-old Nekime Matu Oxendine, the state trooper accused of killing Capt. Adam Bean during a March confrontation in Cumberland County.

Oxendine was indicted in September on a first-degree murder charge in the death of Bean, an off-duty captain with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. A judge ordered he be held without bond following the indictment.

The shooting happened March 27 outside a home in the Hope Mills area.

According to search warrants, both men had romantic relationships with a woman who lived at the home. Investigators said Bean arrived at the residence and became upset after seeing Oxendine’s vehicle parked there. A witness told authorities that Oxendine came outside armed with a handgun, fired one shot into the ground, and then fired additional shots that struck Bean after Bean aggressively approached him.

Bean was found lying on his back in the front yard. Investigators say the woman was performing CPR when deputies arrived.

The woman had dated both men but was in a relationship with Oxendine at the time.

Oxendine is an 18-year veteran of the Highway Patrol. Bean had been with the sheriff’s office since March 2006.