Man hurt in Fayetteville officer-involved shooting charged with armed robbery

Fayetteville police officers shot a man after a CVS Pharmacy was robbed.

On Tuesday, Fayetteville officers responded to the CVS on Ramsey Street around 12:30 p.m. after hearing someone showed a handgun during a robbery.

Officers learned a GPS tracker was placed in the bag of money the man had taken. The man, Christopher Eaton, was found at the train tracks at Moore Street and Mechanic Street, where police shot him and recovered a handgun.

Eaton, 28, was charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon, second-degree kidnapping and possession of stolen goods.

"Money that was taken during that robbery, that there was a GPS-tracking device inside of that," said Maj. Todd Joyce. "They began tracking that device. They were over here in the area of Mechanic [Street] when they got into a foot pursuit with the suspect. And there was an encounter with that individual and shots where fired."

A woman who lived next door spoke to WRAL News and described the moment shots rang out.

"The car pulled up real quick, and I thought something happened to our neighbor," the woman said. As the police were pulling up we heard 'pop, pop, pop.' I guess somebody got shot. It's not unusual. The police presence is a little unusual. Usually it's on the other side of the tracks."

Eaton was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and later airlifted to UNC-Chapel Hill to be treated for his injuries. He's expected to survive. No officers were hurt in the matter.

"We know that our officer did discharge their weapon," Joyce said.

The train tracks were closed Tuesday afternoon as the area is considered part of the crime scene. Numerous evidence markers were seen on the ground on near the tracks. Several freight trains were backed up.

The State Bureau of Investigation has taken over the investigation. WRAL News is working to learn the man's condition.