Knife-wielding man shot after confronting trooper at I-95 traffic stop, NC cops say

A North Carolina state trooper conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 95 in Robeson County says he was forced to shoot a knife-wielding man after the suspect refused to heed warnings, according to the N.C. Department of Public Safety.

Justin Lee Workman, 29, of Wilmington, was wounded in the incident and remained in a hospital Tuesday, according to a press release. His condition was not released.

Investigators say the incident happened about 5:11 p.m. Monday, after Trooper Roderick McDaniel stopped on Interstate 95 to conduct “a roadside safety inspection of a commercial motor vehicle,” the press release said.

“During the course of a roadside safety inspection of a commercial motor vehicle, a trooper was approached by an uninvolved armed individual,” according to the release. “The individual, who was armed with a knife, advanced towards the (trooper) who then discharged his firearm after verbal commands were ignored.”

The trooper and driver of the commercial vehicle were not hurt, officials said.

The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the incident to make sure procedure was followed, the release said.

Trooper McDaniel is an 18-year-veteran of the State Highway Patrol, assigned to District 9 (Cumberland County), the release said. He has been placed on administrative duty pending an internal investigation which is agency protocol in all officer involved shootings.

An earlier press release sent out by the department incorrectly identified the site of the incident as Cumberland County.

This story was originally published January 28, 2020 at 5:13 AM with the headline "Knife-wielding man shot after confronting trooper at I-95 traffic stop, NC cops say."