Suspect involved in deadly shooting, fire has long history of accusations of dangerous behaviors
Cumberland County deputies told WRAL News on Monday that Mattias Bagby shot two men, which led to a manhunt, as law enforcement tried to find him.
At the time same time, a house burned down. Bagby is now facing several charges, including first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder.
WRAL News also learned that Bagby has a long history of accusations involving dangerous behaviors, like communicating threats, harassing phone calls and cyberstalking.
Dating back to 1996, Bagby was charged with misdemeanor assault on a female. That case was voluntarily dismissed. Court records noted in that case that the "prosecution seemed frivolous."
Bagby faced two charges of communicating threats in Cumberland County in 2019. Both of those charges were dismissed for insufficient charges.
In 2022, Bagby was accused of making harassing phone calls. Court records show that on Jan. 11, 2024, that case was marked as "dismissal without leave after deferred prosecution." In other words, Bagby was able to strike a deal to get the charges dismissed.
In 2023, a woman was granted a "no-contact order" after accusing Bagby of sending threatening emails and making death and sexual threats against her. Documents say Bagby "placed the plaintiff in reasonable fear both at home and work." The corresponding criminal case was voluntary dismissed.
Late last year, Bagby was once again accused of communicating threats. That case is still ongoing.
WRAL News asked Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West how these cases could continue to be dismissed.
In an email, West wrote, “A review of the previous charges you referenced revealed that on multiple occasions the Judge denied the State’s motion to continue. We would have made the motion to continue because an essential witness was not present, and we could not proceed without them.
"I also saw where we had to take a dismissal in one instance because we could not proceed legally due to an insufficient charge … In most cases, it is the victims themselves that do not come to court and unfortunately in most cases we cannot proceed without them. We would encourage victims to see the case through, if at all possible, to not only prevent them for being revictimized but also to prevent others from becoming victims.”
WRAL News found all of this after a community near Fayetteville was shut down earlier this week. Deputies investigated a house fire and deadly shooting on Evans Dairy Road.
Court documents say Bagby is accused of breaking into a victim’s home – David Matthews – and shooting him multiple times. It says Bagby shot another neighbor, Richard Yarborough, to death, while he was trying to help Matthews.
In a 911 call, one caller says Bagby is dangerous. Multiple callers, including Matthews, tell dispatchers that Bagby was facing eviction.
“He lives in the house right back of us … He’s got a record … He’s got an eviction notice on the 27th of this month,” Matthews said in on 911 call.
Documents confirm that court date. In it, his landlord claims Bagby was "holding over" after the end of his lease and owed him money.
A judge denied Bagby’s previous attempt to appeal under claims that it was a wrongful eviction.
