NC Troopers avoid charges in a controversial fatal crash that killed 31-year-old Tyrone Mason in Raleigh, North Carolina. Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman announced that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Trooper Garrett Macario and his supervisor, Sgt. Matthew Morrison, despite accusations of providing false information following the deadly October 2024 crash.
The crash occurred on October 7, 2024, on Capital Boulevard. Mason was initially believed to have died in a solo vehicle accident with no law enforcement involvement. However, evidence later revealed that Trooper Macario had attempted to stop Mason before the crash but failed to disclose this to Raleigh police. According to search warrants, Sgt. Morrison allegedly instructed Macario to keep the attempted traffic stop secret.
Investigators later uncovered bodycam and dashcam footage that contradicted both troopers’ initial reports. The video evidence clearly linked Macario to the moments leading up to Mason’s death. As a result, DA Freeman’s office dismissed approximately 200 criminal cases tied to the troopers, including numerous DWI charges, citing compromised integrity of their testimonies.
Scandal Shakes NC Highway Patrol: Troopers Suspended, 180 Cases Dismissed Amid Credibility Concerns
Despite mounting public pressure and clear inconsistencies, no criminal charges will be filed against Macario or Morrison. High-profile civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Bakari Sellers, representing Mason’s family, called the handling of the case a cover-up and demanded transparency.
“This family was told a lie from day one,” said Crump. “We’re not going to stop until Tyrone gets justice.”
In response to the backlash, a judge ordered the release of the law enforcement video footage, stressing that public confidence in police transparency was at stake. The State Bureau of Investigation continues its review, while both troopers remain on administrative leave.
The Mason family plans to pursue civil litigation against the troopers and the State Highway Patrol, alleging a systemic failure that enabled the misconduct.
