Local News

'Anger has to stop': Families of suspect, victim in Fayetteville stabbing unite for vigil

Police officers joined with family members Sunday night for a vigil after a Fayetteville woman was stabbed to death in front of her two children.

Posted Updated

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Police officers joined with family members Sunday night for a vigil after a Fayetteville woman was stabbed to death in front of her two children.

Amanda Williams was killed in her Bedrock Drive home Wednesday night by Mark Hicks, whom police found standing over her body with a knife when they responded to a 911 call from her two sons. Officers shot and killed Hicks when he refused to drop the knife and then lunged at them with it as they tried to take him into custody, police said.

The families of Williams and Hicks came together for the vigil Sunday night at the place where both lives were lost. Having both families in attendance was a decision that Williams’ cousin Jamey Marina grappled with, but eventually decided was necessary.

“I was angry. I said some horrible things about Mark,” Marina said. “I feel like the anger has to stop. Until that stops, things aren’t going to heal.”

Family members on Sunday night said they are convinced mental health issues played a role in the incident and addressed the topic in the hopes that it could help prevent other families from having similar experiences.

“There’s a stigma to it and people don’t want to acknowledge that. Until it’s acknowledged, this type of situation is going to continue to happen time and time again," Marina said.

Both Hicks’ mother and Williams’ 11-year-old son were at the vigil.

The State Bureau of Investigation continues to look into the incident and the release of body camera footage is pending.

 Credits 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.