A Black man was found hanging from a tree in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, on Friday, August 21, but the police indicated that they are investigating the death as a suicide. The 38-year-old man, Demetrius Fleming, was reportedly found dead by medical personnel responding to an emergency call about an attempted suicide.
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Police Say Black Man Found Hanging From Tree Investigated As Suicide
Fleming was reportedly found dead when first responders found him with a ligature around his neck, according to WRAL. Fleming was found dead at a residence on Roanoke Avenue in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.
Police Chief Lawrence Wiggins said the police responded to a 911 call about a suicide attempt.
Wiggins added that the 911 call call came from someone close to the father of nine, but the caller was not on the scene.
“We’re treating this as an open, equivocal death investigation,” said Wiggins. “The Roanoke Rapids Police Department is committed to finding the facts and reporting them. This investigation is in its infancy, and it is important to neither make nor perpetuate assumptions as facts. The evidence will provide the conclusion; anything else will create more confusion.”
The death comes days after another Black man was found in Raleigh under similar circumstances, and Wiggins indicated that “everything” is being considered.
“We are not working from any strict assumption,” Wiggins added. “Everything is on the table.”
Another Black Man Was Found Under Similar Circumstances In Raleigh Days Earlier
The Raleigh Police Department announced that another Black man was found dead under similar circumstances days earlier in downtown Raleigh.
Officers from the RPD responded to assist the paramedics at 318 S. McDowell St. after a man was found dead hanging from a tree near Nash Square on August 15.
“On August 15, 2026, at approximately 3:07 p.m., Raleigh Police officers and medical personnel responded to 318 S. McDowell St. in reference to a report of a subject hanging from a tree,” noted the press release. “Upon arrival, first responders removed the subject from the tree and initiated life-saving measures. The subject was pronounced deceased as a result of his injuries. There appears to be no foul play involved.”
“The incident is being investigated as a suicide,” the report continued. “The Office of the Medical Examiner has taken custody of the case and will conduct a full investigation.”
“We understand that this loss may be deeply painful for those who knew and cared about the individual. We ask everyone to please be mindful of the family and friends who are grieving and to avoid sharing unverified information or speculation while investigators continue their work,” it concluded.
Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce said that the man’s mother said her son previously struggled with mental health. In addition, Boyce said that she was distressed by the online speculation about the 32-year-old’s manner of death, per WTVD.
“She is not happy about what has been shared online,” Boyce said.
Fleming Was A Father Of Nine
Fleming”s obituary revealed that he was a father of nine with a passion for music. He was also a father of nine.
“A proud graduate of Weldon High School in 2006, Demetrius pursued higher learning at Chowan University, where his incredible skills with the high school band left a lasting impression on all who heard him play. His passion for music and rhythm was not just a hobby but a way of life, and he shared this love with everyone he encountered, especially within his church community,” it reads.
“To them, he was not just a father but a hero, a constant source of strength and inspiration who always wore a smile despite any hardships he faced.”
Services will be held on Monday, September 7, and the family requested that donations be made to the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Fund in Fleming’s memory in lieu of flowers.
“Demetrius’s legacy of love and joy will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know him. His family shares this special message: ‘Forever in our hearts, we love you, Dad.’”
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