19-year-old charged with murder after NC State graduate shot, killed near campus

RALEIGH, N.C. — A recent North Carolina State University graduate, who was shot and killed in the parking lot of a grocery store near campus, has been identified, according to WTVD.

Raleigh police said the shooting happened around 7:35 p.m. at the Food Lion on Western Boulevard.

According to reports from WTVD, officers found Cody McLaggan Friday night. He had been shot several times and was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Detectives with the Raleigh Police Department arrested and charged 19-year-old James Christopher Anderson with murder in connection to McLaggan’s death, according to WTVD.

NC State confirmed McLaggan was a student. He earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural business management in December 2021, the university said.

McLaggan’s family spoke to WTVD and said he had a bright future. They said he is one of three siblings.

A family friend told WTVD McLaggan lost his mom at a young age, and his dad, Clifford raised him and his two sisters.

Lilly Covington told WTVD she and her brother grew up with McLaggan and his two sisters in Davidson County. She started a GoFundMe to help pay for the funeral expenses.

Covington told WTVD one of the hardest parts of this tragedy is McLaggan was excited to start his new career after just graduating from N.C. State in December.

”He just accepted a job in Virginia for agricultural business, and he was getting ready to pack his things and move. We were so excited to see his opportunities that he would have as a you know, a recent graduate and start his adult life, you know, and he had so many opportunities and then it’s just been taken from them and it’s just so sad,” Covington said.

Anderson is being held at the Wake County Detention Center. Police told WTVD they had not yet identified his motive for allegedly committing the crime.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at 919-834-HELP.

(WATCH BELOW: CMPD identifies 19-year-old victim in deadly shooting near campus of UNC Charlotte)

CMPD identifies 19-year-old victim in deadly shooting near campus of UNC Charlotte

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