Trooper shoots, kills Fayetteville man wanted for murder after high-speed chase, shootout in Raleigh
A trooper shot and killed a Fayetteville man who was wanted for murder after the suspect led officers on a high-speed chase that ended with a shootout in Raleigh.
Residents said they heard several gunshots just before 1:30 a.m. Friday in a south Raleigh neighborhood near East Street and Branch Street.
Jaylen Latrelle Routt, 20, of Fayetteville, was killed after he fired shots at law enforcement.
The chase began at 1:08 a.m. on Interstate 40 West near Mile Marker 322 when a trooper tried to stop Routt, who was speeding 101 mph in a 70-mph zone.
Troopers and a deputy from the Johnston County Sheriff's Office joined the chase, which continued into Wake County and onto Hammond Road in Raleigh.
Routt had several warrants out for his arrest, including murder. Routt was wanted for the Jan. 7, 2021, murder of Anthony Adams near the 900 block of Emory Court, Fayetteville police said.
Adams was shot and killed in his front yard as his mother, Rita Ballards, looked on.
"I was at his body before the car was off the street," Ballards said.
Adams knew Routt, according to Ballards.
"We have been waiting for this day to hear something," Ballards said.
State Highway Patrol Trooper 1st Sgt. Christopher Knox told WRAL News troopers were not aware of Routt's warrants when they first tried to stop the car.
"You never know what you are dealing with," Knox said. "This is exactly one of those examples; a very dangerous situation with someone that had nothing to lose."
According to scanner traffic, the chase reached speeds of 120 mph, but Knox was not able to confirm how fast the driver was traveling.
Routt eventually crashed in a south Raleigh neighborhood in a grassy area near the intersection of East Street and Branch Street.
When the troopers and a deputy attempted to arrest him, he grabbed a gun and shot at officers.
Troopers and the deputy returned fire. Routt was taken to WakeMed, where he died.
"Now, we want to know why my son was killed," Ballards said. "Tell us why."
The trooper involved in the incident was Master Trooper Harrison Nazal, a 10-year veteran assigned to Troop C, District 6 in Johnston County.
"When it comes to pursuits, it's always why," Knox said. "Why do people run? You never know what you're dealing with, and this is one of those examples ... [It's] a very dangerous situation from somebody who had nothing to lose it appeared."
Knox was not able to share how many shots the man fired at law enforcement officers.
The State Highway Patrol said Nazal, assigned to Johnston County, fired the shots. In accordance with agency protocol in any trooper-involved shooting, Nazal was put on administrative duty.
No officers were injured, Knox said, and there was nobody else in the car with the suspect.
WRAL News flew over the scene at 7:30 a.m. Friday, where a car believed to belong to the man was littered with bullet holes.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is conducting an independent investigation of the incident.
The SBI, the Johnston County Sheriff's Office and the State Highway Patrol are investigating the shooting.
The Raleigh Police Department was at the scene to help secure the area.
