A viral video showing the aftermath of a deadly shooting in Fayetteville is raising questions among witnesses who say the shooter acted in self-defense.
The man behind the camera, who chose to stay anonymous, said he heard gunshots, grabbed his phone, and started recording.
“When I peeked my head out, there was a gentleman dead on the ground,” he recalled. “And another gentleman walking around with an AK looking for another gentleman that supposedly came to rob them. The other gentleman ran off. And he did kill one of them.”
Police said Vanclief was the man killed. So far, no arrests have been made, and authorities haven’t released any suspect descriptions.
“At this time, there is no ongoing threat to the public. The investigation remains active, and all involved parties are cooperating,” police said in a statement.
The incident occurred around 10:22 a.m. Sunday at Barton’s Landing Condominium Complex on Cliffdale Road.
Eyewitnesses told ABC11 News that the shooter believed someone was targeting him and thought he was ambushed when returning home.
“Definitely self-defense,” the witness said. “From what I heard, they were plotting on him a couple times. And I guess they finally caught him here at his residence. So definitely self-defense.”
Police have not confirmed or denied the self-defense claims.
Still, the witness stands by his view, saying the man was clearly protecting himself. He added that he stayed at the scene and answered police questions.
In the video, as the shooter is detained, he can be heard shouting:
“I don’t know! He ran off! And I’m sitting here trying to find him now. Because he might try to double back at me.”
By Monday afternoon, bullet holes were still visible on the side of the building where the shooting took place.
“That’s a weapon of mass destruction. For sure. I was scared just seeing it,” the witness said. “And that’s why I told my girlfriend to get back because you never know what’s going on through his head. I’m sure that thing was loaded up. Just anybody seeing him or something like that while it was going on, he might shoot at us too. So we didn’t know what was going on.”
Fayetteville Police are continuing to investigate and ask anyone with information to contact the department.
