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FAYETTEVILLE – One person was killed after a police chase and accident in Fayetteville on Wednesday morning.

Police say John Velandra failed to yield to officers at a traffic stop at the intersection of Pamalee Drive and Cain Road and was hit by a suspect fleeing in a stolen truck.

The incident began when police say they got a call about a man looking into vehicles. They say the caller’s husband then began to follow the suspect in his car.

Police then caught up with the suspect in the Cottenade neighborhood near Yadkin Road and authorities had blocked off the intersection with two patrol cars to reduce the likelihood of other vehicles being struck by the suspect vehicle. But officials say Velandra failed to yield and entered the intersection when the light in his direction turned green.

Police say that’s when the suspect hit Velandra’s car and killed him.

"Our primary concern is the safety of the officers and the safety of the citizens,” explained Lt. Chris Davis of the Fayetteville Police Department. “In this particular case, we blocked the intersection off. I think we did a good job of trying to protect the citizens and for whatever reason, we may never know why, the PT Cruiser proceeded through the intersection."

Police say the suspect was Percyful Junior McIntyre and that he ran from the crash. They say he's a 24-year-old black male and that they will charge him with first degree murder, felony speeding to elude, larceny of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and felony hit and run.

Police say the officers involved in the pursuit are on administrative duty until an investigation is complete.

Anyone with information should call police.

Friends of Velandra said it’s hard to believe his life could end this way.

"He was everything you wanted a friend to be. He was everything you wanted a partner to be, and it’s just a shock to us all that in the blink of an eye, he's gone," Bill McMillan, Velandra’s friend, said.

The former soldier ran a gym called Crossfit Cape Fear out of Highland Presbyterian Church’s recreation center. McMillan said Velandra lived and breathed fitness and was quick with a joke.

"John just made everybody laugh,” McMillan said. “I mean, he was just a good, god-fearing man."

A sign on the recreation center’s door said Crossfit is closed until further notice. But that didn’t stop former students and other trainers from gathering to comfort each other.

"We're crying on each other's shoulders, we're leaning on each other's shoulders for the loss of our friend, our mentor, and our buddy," McMillan said.