Man wanted in May murder killed in shootout with Fayetteville police after hours-long standoff

A man died after he exchanged gunfire with Fayetteville police Tuesday while officers were trying to serve a warrant for first-degree murder.

Shakoor Quayon Williams was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in critical condition. Williams, 33, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Police said Williams barricaded himself for hours inside an apartment at the Kings Cross Apartments in the 5700 block of Ivanhoe Court, off Morganton Road near Cross Creek Mall. Williams was wanted in connection with the murder of Willie Russell in May.

According to authorities, an agent from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation’s (SBI) Criminal Apprehension Team (CAT) was among the officers involved in the shooting.

In a news conference on Tuesday afternoon, police said negotiations began at 9:20 a.m. and lasted until after 1 p.m., when shots were fired inside the apartment. According to the police, Williams came out of the apartment and exchanged gunfire with officers.

Fayetteville police said three officers and a SBI agent returned fire, striking the suspect. No officers were injured.

"Based on what the officers did, I’d be under the assumption he was armed when he walked out of the residence," Lee Turner, Defense Attorney, Former Police Officer said.

Turner, a former police officer, now defense attorney says officers are often at a disadvantage while trying to serve warrants.

"You don’t know what’s on the other side of the door..you don’t know what they’re thinking," Turner said.

Russell died after being shot several times in the 2000 block of Seneca Drive on May 12. He was found in the street and died on the way to the hospital.

Police requested the SBI’s Criminal Apprehension Team to assist its agency with serving an arrest warrant.

At the request of the Cumberland County District Attorney, the SBI’s Special Investigations Unit is now investigating the shooting. Pursuant to standard operating procedure, the SBI agent has been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

WRAL News spoke with Carmen Spencer, a resident who witnessed the shooting.

"He came out ... they shot him [and] he fell to the ground," Spencer described. "He threw his arm up like this so that's how we knew he was still alive. They finished him ... they shot him seven to 10 more times while he was on the ground."

The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is investigating the shooting. The officers involved have been placed on administrative duty.

The entrance to the apartment complex was briefly closed, and the apartments in the building were evacuated.