North Carolina Highway Patrol Sgt. Nekime Matu Oxendine has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Adam Bean.
According to investigators, Bean was shot and killed at a Hope Mills, NC, home belonging to a deputy by the name of Tara Lynn Whitman, whom he and Oxendine were seeing, on the night of March 27, 2026. Investigators report that the incident involving the two law enforcement officers stemmed from a domestic disturbance.
The Exclusive Press obtained a search warrant, dated June 27, 2026, states that Whitman and Bean were conversing with one another before the incident happened. Bean asked her to come to his residence after work so they could talk. Whitman initially agreed but later decided not to go and stopped responding to Bean’s messages. Bean asked Whitman if she was still coming so they could talk. Whitman declined and told Bean she was already in bed for the evening.
Bean stated he was waiting in the driveway to have a conversation and then advised, “Fuck it, I’ll come to you.”
Whitman responded, “Please don’t.”
Bean then replied, “Nope,” and instructed Whitman to “Come outside,” or he would cause a scene by blowing the horn, the search warrant states.
According to Whitman, Bean contacted her, stating he was outside of her residence. Bean then instructed Whitman to exit her residence. Once outside, Whitman observed Bean sitting in his vehicle. According to investigators, Bean arrived home upset after discovering Oxendine’s truck parked in his yard. Bean, visibly irate, questioned the presence of Oxendine’s vehicle at Whitman’s residence.
The report states that Bean exited his vehicle and moved aggressively toward Oxendine after Oxendine had appeared outside the residence. Oxendine walked out of the house holding a gun and fired one shot into the ground. Moments later, he allegedly fired several more shots, striking Bean. Investigators say Whitman was performing CPR and made the 911 call, CBS 17 News report. By the time officers arrived Bean, who was lying in the front yard, was pronounced dead.
Witnesses told investigators that tensions involving Oxendine, Bean, and their relationship with a woman had existed for years.
During the investigation, Whitman was interviewed and stated she had previously been involved in a long-term relationship with Bean, with evidence suggesting that were in a relationship for three years. Whitman moved out of their shared residence with Bean in December 2025.
Whitman had recently resumed a romantic relationship with Oxendine. Prior to her relationship with Bean, Whitman and Oxendine had been involved in a long-term relationship.
On September 9th, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation completed its investigation and turned over its findings to the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys, which subsequently indicted the 44-year-old on the charges.
Court documents indicate that Oxendine is on administrative duty and remains in custody at the Moore County Detention Center. He is being held without bond. The case remains ongoing.
