2 dead, police officer in critical condition at hospital after shootout in south Raleigh

Two men are dead and a Raleigh police officer remained in critical condition at WakeMed hospital Wednesday after a shootout in south Raleigh.

The shooting took place just before 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Renaissance Park neighborhood, bringing dozens of law enforcement officers and vehicles to the area just south of the Raleigh Beltline and west of Wilmington Street.

One man police referred to as the suspect died at the scene.

Police Chief Estella Patterson announced the second man’s death at a brief news conference at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, declining to identify either man.

On Wednesday, police identified the suspect as Antonio Rodrigues, 70, and the second man as John Rowe, 73.

The injured officer was out of surgery, Patterson said late Tuesday night. The department has not released his name at his family’s request.

Burglary call

Investigators are still working through the details, but the chief said the incident began with a 911 call about a burglary in progress just after 5:30 p.m. on the 600 block of Democracy Street.

A female caller said she knew the suspect from a previous relationship, Patterson said.

Officers arriving on the scene heard gunfire from the house and radioed for help, with several agencies responding.

A man inside the house shot at police, and police returned gunfire, killing him, according to police.

The second man shot inside the house was taken to the hospital, where he died, Patterson said.

Police believe that “everything occurred inside the residence,” the chief said.

On Wednesday, police returned to Democracy Street with the bomb squad a warrant to search the suspect’s car.

“Suspicious items were discovered,” a news release stated just before 5 p.m.. “Out of an abundance of caution, our hazardous devices unit and ATF [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives] were called, and the items were determined to pose no threat. The public may now resume normal activities.”

Court records point to stalking

A neighbor who witnessed Tuesday night’s events told The News & Observer the homeowner’s ex-husband was responsible. The N&O is choosing not to name her to protect her privacy.

Court records show Rodrigues, the ex-husband, was convicted at least twice in North Carolina on charges of stalking.

He was first sentenced in Carteret County in 2014 on a charge of felony stalking, though court records don’t specify who the victim was. The man was accused then of secretly putting a video camera in his estranged wife’s bedroom closet, repeatedly contacting her and sending out private photos of her via email, a local news station reported at the time.

Nine years later, he pleaded guilty in Wake County Superior Court to two counts of stalking with a prior conviction, two counts of stalking and three counts of disclosure of private images. The victim in that case was the Democracy Street homeowner.

Court documents state Rodrigues sent private photos of his ex-wife in letters mailed to at least five of her colleagues and repeatedly called and texted her throughout 2021.

Wake County Superior Court Judge Paul C. Ridgeway sentenced him in March 2023 to a suspended sentence of a minimum of 38 months in prison, allowing him to avoid prison time if he completed three years of probation.

Rodrigues was also ordered to have no contact with his ex-wife, to stay at least 300 yards away from her, to destroy all private images of her and to complete a mental health assessment and any recommended treatment.

‘A difficult time’

“The incident and events that occurred tonight are deeply troubling,” Patterson said Tuesday night. “They’re concerning to me, and I know they cause fear to the community.”

“But I want you to know Raleigh is a strong community, a resilient community, and we’ll get through this together,” she said.

Tuesday night’s shooting came just days after a shooting at a North Hills restaurant left two dead and one injured.

“The last couple of days have been a difficult time for our Police Department and our city,” Patterson said. “What we have endured as a community has been heavy.”

Support from elected officials

Gov. Josh Stein posted on X that Patterson had briefed him about the shooting and that he was praying for the officer’s recovery.

Attorney General Jeff Jackson and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis also posted messages of support for the Police Department and the injured officer.

On Chapanoke Road, around the corner from the shooting, snow was falling just after 7:30 p.m. as officers packed up their tactical gear, including long guns.

Police will now conduct an internal review to make sure officers followed department policies and release a five-day report with additional information about the incident.

The State Bureau of Investigation will also investigate the shooting, which is routine when officers discharge their weapons. The SBI will release its findings to the District Attorney’s Office.

Staff writers Avi Bajpai and Anna Roman and photojournalist Ethan Hyman contributed to this report.

This story was originally published January 21, 2025 at 6:58 PM.