Cumberland County deputy hit, killed by suspected drunk driver, funeral service to be held today

The deputy was identified as Oscar Yovani Bolanos-Anavisca Jr. He was 23 years old. He started his career with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office in November 2020. He began his career with the sheriff's office working as a School Resource Officer at Hope Mills Middle School.

The driver, Nicholas Terlizzi, 24, of Linden, faces felony charges of death by vehicle and hit-and-run resulting in death. He faces misdemeanor charges of driving while impaired, reckless driving to endanger, driving on a restricted license, driving without insurance and driving without registration, according to North Carolina State Highway Patrol records. He was also cited with a red light infraction, the record states.

Authorities are holding Terlizzi at the Cumberland County Detention Center. On Friday, District Attorney Billy West said Terlizzi's bond went from $1 million to no bond.

"The one promise I can make to this family and to this community is we will get justice in this case from what was done today because we lost an officer that was serving and protecting us that was willing to give his life to serve and protect us, and we lost a citizen of this county and of this state," West said. "And for that, we will get justice."

West said Terlizzi didn't have a criminal record other than minor traffic violations.

Bolanos-Anavisca was investigating a robbery around 2:45 a.m. Friday that happened at the Circle K at 2990 Gillespie St. He was with the K-9 unit to track the robbery suspect, when authorities said a drunk driver hit him.

Terlizzi made it to the Waffle House, about a mile and a half away, where the driver was caught and taken into custody.

Deputies on the scene immediately attempted lifesaving efforts. Authorities took Bolanos-Anavisca by ambulance to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, where he died.

Deputies set up a memorial at the scene, decorating the fallen deputy's patrol car.

"The community not only lost a good deputy, a good officer," said Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis Wright. "A son, a family member was lost behind this ... it's hard to find words to say."

"As I always tell them it's a job, a career that not everyone can do. Oscar, that's what he wanted to do, he wanted to help people."

Bolanos-Anavisca's father, Oscar Bolanos Sr., texted WRAL News a written statement.

"My son was a great son full of dreams," Bolanos Sr. wrote of his late son. "Since he was a child, he dreamed of being a policeman.

"It hurts to lose him, but I am a proud father. [My son] gave his life for his country and his city."

Bolanos Sr. said the family is from Guatemala.

Bolanos-Anavisca's cousin, Byron Bolanos, also provided WRAL News with the following statement:

"He was honestly like a brother to me," Bolanos wrote. "'Tito' was a person that loved his job, family and friends.

"He was always so happy. [It] didn’t matter what time of day I would call him, he would always answer happy. He was one of the first person’s that trusted me to cut their hair when I first started barbering, and he always believed in me, and he would send random messages telling me how proud he was of me. Just that right there tells you a lot about him as a person, that he cared a lot about his loved ones. I'm going to miss him a lot and that beautiful smile he always had. [It] breaks my heart to know he’s gone."

The Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis Wright changed his Facebook profile picture to honor the fallen deputy. The Spring Lake Police Department and Fayetteville City Council Member D.J. Haire, as well as many others, have offered their condolences.

“I look at it as a senseless tragedy that could have been avoided,” Wright said.

Bolanos-Anavisca's funeral service is being held Friday at the Rivers of Living Water Church of God. The visitation begins at 10 a.m., and the funeral service begins at 2 p.m.

The church is located at 1764 Bingham Drive in Fayetteville.

Immediately following the service, Deputy Bolanos-Anavisca will be laid to rest at Rockfish Memorial Park on Gillespie Street in Fayetteville.

WRAL will be livestreaming the funeral service at 2 p.m.

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office said members of the general public, as well as law enforcement officers, are invited to attend. Please note that cameras will not be permitted in the Sanctuary.

The Southern States Police Benevolent Association and the Police Benevolent Foundation have also started a memorial fund for the family of fallen Deputy Bolanos-Anavisca. 100% of the money received will go to Deputy Bolanos-Anavisca’s family.

The North Carolina Police Benevolent Association and the Police Benevolent Foundation are also asking for financial support for the family of Bolanos-Anavisca. 100% of the money received will go to his fiancé and family.

“It’s something that he always wanted to do was be a deputy,” Wright said.

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office is asking people to "Please keep Deputy Oscar Bolanos-Anavisca, Jr’s family, friends and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."

On Friday, Gov. Roy Cooper ordered all U.S. and North Carolina flags at state facilities to half-staff immediately until sunset on Saturday in honor of Bolanos-Anavisca.

"I spoke with Sheriff Wright offering condolences, support and appreciation for the men and women who keep our communities safe," Cooper said in a statement.

An investigation is ongoing.

Bolanos-Anavisca is the 215th law enforcement member killed this year in the U.S., according to Officer Down Memorial. The nonprofit tracks fallen law enforcement members, including deputies, troopers, police officers and correctional facility guards.

The number of officers who have died in the line of duty this year is pretty low compared to 655 who died in 2021. It’s because hundreds of officers died from COVID-19, which are included in those stats.

This year, COVID deaths among officers is down to 68, but it’s still the top cause of death for those in the line of duty.