A North Carolina officer has been indicted and charged in the killing of a fellow deputy after both men were allegedly involved in a love triangle with the same woman.

North Carolina State Highway Patrol Sgt. Nekime Matu Oxendine, 44, is facing one count of first-degree murder, according to online records for the Moore County Detention Center viewed by PEOPLE.

Oxendine was arrested for the March 27 incident on Wednesday, Sept. 9, and remains in custody as of Friday, Sept. 11.

Captain Adam Bean.Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office
He was indicted by a Cumberland County grand jury, a spokesperson for the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation confirmed to PEOPLE on Friday.

The former highway patrol sergeant is accused of killing Cumberland County Sheriff’s Capt. Adam Bean shortly before 11 p.m. local time on March 27 in front of the woman’s Hope Mills home, Cleveland 19 reported, citing a search warrant.

At approximately 10:53 p.m., the woman, who was identified in the filing as Tara Lynn Whitman, told 911 dispatchers that the victim had “just” been shot at the residence.

Our new app is here! Free, fun and full of exclusives. Scan to download now!

She was performing CPR on Bean in her front yard when Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant R. Wolfe arrived. Whitman was identified as the sister of North Carolina State Highway Patrol’s Col. Freddy L. Johnson, Jr., ABC 11 reported.

Bean succumbed to his injuries and was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene, the search warrant said.

“During the investigation, Whitman was interviewed and stated she had previously been involved in a long-term relationship with Bean,” the search warrant states. “Whitman moved out of her 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.”

Investigators said that on March 27, Bean and Whitman communicated after he asked if he could come to her home so they could talk.

Nekime Matu Oxendine.Moore County Detention Center
Whitman allegedly changed her mind that evening, saying she was in for the night, but Bean proceeded to show up at her home.

Text messages obtained through the search warrant showed that Bean told Whitman to come outside or he would cause a scene by blowing his horn.

When she went outside, “Bean appeared irate and questioned why Oxendine’s vehicle was located at Whitman’s residence,” per the warrant.

Oxendine came outside and fired “approximately two warning gunshots into the ground,” but Bean continued to come towards Oxendine before he shot Bean, Whitman said.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
“The North Carolina State Highway Patrol understands that Sgt. Nekime M. Oxendine has been criminally charged,” the Highway Patrol said in a statement Wednesday afternoon, per ABC 11.

“The Patrol respects the integrity of the judicial process and our system of laws that we all hold dear. This is a difficult and tragic event for all involved. While this criminal investigation has moved forward, the Patrol has been conducting a separate internal investigation. That investigation is continuing, and Sgt. Oxendine remains on administrative duty pending the outcome of the internal investigation. The Patrol has no further comment,” the agency said.

PEOPLE reached out to the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys’ Offices for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.

Oxendine is being held without bond. His next court date is scheduled for Nov. 4, per his booking record.