NC Man Charged With Murder in 'Road Rage' Clash With Black Motorcyclist

A North Carolina man was charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a Black male motorcyclist about 12:30 p.m. Monday in Fayetteville, North Carolina, following a roadside confrontation, police said.

A video of the shooting appears to show one of the men involved in the incident stepping aside, raising questions about the motives behind the deadly clash.

The video obtained by WRAL News shows the final moments of the dispute between Roger Dale Nobles, who was driving a pickup truck, and Stephen Addison, the motorcyclist, police said. The video, recorded by a bystander, shows Nobles' son, Roger Dale Nobles Jr., standing outside the passenger side of the truck speaking to Addison. Before the shot is fired from inside the truck, police said, Nobles Jr. appears to step aside.

"The preliminary investigation has revealed a driver of a truck was engaged in a disturbance with a driver of a motorcycle resulting in the motorcyclist being shot by the suspect," Fayetteville police said in a statement.

Police told the station Nobles Jr. stepped out of the truck and confronted Addison before Nobles Sr. fired a gun from the driver's seat. Nobles Sr. was driving his 1992 Chevrolet pickup leading up to the confrontation with Addison, according to the arrest warrant obtained by the station. The warrant does not offer a reason for the shooting.

Police said Addison was transported to a hospital where he later died. Nobles Sr. fled the scene and was later arrested at his home on first-degree murder charges, according to police. He is currently being held at the Cumberland County Jail and has received no bond.

District Attorney Bill West told WRAL News he'll investigate the incident further before making any decision about charging Nobles, who is white, with a hate crime.

"If the evidence warrants that type of charge, it's certainly something we would look at and pursue," West said.

Shahara Chance told WRAL News that Nobles has previously referred to her as a racial slur.

"He done drove in my yard and took pictures of me on my porch," she said. "He's shot his gun in the air telling me to turn my music down. I done been through hell with this man."

Lieutenant Diana Holloway, Fayetteville Police Department spokeswoman, said in an email that there was no other information available.

Police have not referred to the shooting as a road rage incident, reports The State newspaper.

There have been at least two other similar roadway shootings in North Carolina over the last year, according to the paper.

Addison, 32, was a veteran and father to three children, according to WRAL News.

"[He was] a loving, caring guy for anybody. He stayed out the way [and] was never in anybody's business," Justin Cockrell, a friend of Addison's, told the station. He added, "It's just senseless. It's 2022, and we're still talking about road rage, I mean, come on. I lost my brother, for what? He has three kids ... he's a veteran and served in the military."

Police are requesting anyone with videos to contact Detective J. Nevitt at (910) 703-3499 or Crimestoppers at p3tips.com.