Friends pay tribute to artist, ‘wild soul’ killed in Morrisville shooting
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- Friends remember Zachary Horn as a creative, community artist and veterans' advocate.
- Horn, 45, died in a Monday shooting at Park West Village in Morrisville; suspect charged.
- Tributes from longtime friends highlighted his art, motorcycles and big-hearted nature.
To friends who loved him best, Zachary Horn summed up the style of a “wild soul,” a life-loving artist who drew comic-book heroes, dabbled in graffiti art and thrived on motorcycles — an edgy but big-hearted bear of a man.
For years in Raleigh, he occupied the art community’s fringier corners, selling his drawings at Comic Con booths or leading graffiti competitions in Raleigh’s SPARKCon festivals. On some memorable nights, he would lend his skills to body-painting events — sometimes at strip clubs.
He also lobbied hard for veterans’ medical care, coming from a military family, and he once ranted on his Facebook page because his apartment complex wouldn’t let him fly an American flag. At the same time, as a Native American, he publicly worried about being “snatched up” by ICE agents.
“I would describe him as somebody who’s a real, rare breed in that he was super-creative, super-loving and genuine heart-on-his-sleeve type of dude,” said Sean Kernick, a friend known for downtown Raleigh murals. “But also tough.”
These qualities make it all the more senseless, friends said, that Horn should die at 45, victim of a Monday-night shooting at Park West Village in Morrisville.
Police found Horn with a gunshot wound outside Crumbl Cookie and Ruckus Pizza, Pasta and Spirits, and they later charged 55-year-old John Willis Fraizer III with murder.
Morrisville police have not released any information about a possible motive or said whether the men knew each other.
A GoFundMe campaign has been started to raise $11,000 to help Horn’s family with funeral expenses and other bills.
Kevin Smith, Rocky Horror ...
Tributes soon poured in for Horn, who has three daughters, from friends dating back to Broughton High School and N.C. State University.
“We bonded over our shared love of Kevin Smith movies,” said friend Leslie Edwards, “and were part of a gaggle of teens that frequented the midnight ‘Rocky Horror’ shows at The Rialto.”
In a Facebook post, he posed with Smith at a recent Comic Con, collecting a hug.
Teddy bear, big heart
But his Spiderman and Avengers drawings were a side business for Horn, who operated under the name Goon Art Co.
Last year, Horn excitedly posted about joining the groundskeeper crew for the Durham Bulls, which he called a “dream job.”
He often worked with local search and rescue teams, Edwards said, and also as a holistic care consultant at Triangle hospitals. He lobbied the General Assembly for veterans’ access to medical marijuana, Edwards said, and was recognized by the American Cancer Society and Veterans Helping Veterans for his work.
One of the last pictures he posted on Facebook page before his death came from the monks on their Walk For Peace through Raleigh, where he noted his surprise at being so moved.
“Zach was a big guy with an imposing presence,” Edwards said. “But he was a big teddy bear with a big heart. Zach was a relentlessly positive guy with a strong sense of justice.”
Friends note Horn had his demons. But the good times weigh more in the balance.
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This story was originally published February 26, 2026 at 8:42 AM.