Neighbors describe chaotic scene during Raleigh shooting that killed 2, injured officer

Neighbors in south Raleigh described a chaotic shootout in the snow Tuesday night in which a domestic violence victim fled her house barefoot while bullets flew.

Two men died in the violence on Democracy Street, in the Renaissance Park neighborhood off Tryon Road, and a Raleigh police officer remained hospitalized after the shooting. A large police truck with a ram attached to its front end remained in the alley on the street’s 600 block, where the garage door was smashed in.

“Last night was crazy,” said Kayla Biesaga, who lives nearby. “We were just chilling in the house. We didn’t hear the initial shotgun that was fired. We heard cop sirens, we heard cop shooting, then I saw my neighbor ... run out of the house with no shoes on and we were like, ‘Girl, get in here.’ “

Biesaga said the incident stemmed from a neighbor’s ex-husband, against whom she had taken out a protective order, barging into the house. She said both the ex-husband and her neighbor’s boyfriend were the two deceased.

“She was in shock, honestly,” Biesaga said, adding her neighbor stayed two hours before leaving with a police detective. “I think she composed herself very well. I gave her a pair of my shoes. Luckily, we were the same size. This was an unnecessary act of violence. If we had more domestic violence protections this wouldn’t happen. If we had more gun restrictions, this wouldn’t happen. If we did more for mental health situations, this wouldn’t happen.”

Raleigh police later identified the victims as John Rowe, 73, and the suspect, also deceased, as Antonio Rodrigues, 70. Police declined to release the injured officer’s name at the family’s request.

Hearing gunshots, banging on door from police

Meanwhile, Chad Taylor and his family had just started to enjoy Tuesday’s snowfall around 6 p.m. when they heard gunshots. Soon after, police banged on the door and told his family to move away from the house.

He packed his girls, ages 2 and 4, into the car and drove farther down their street.

“It was chaotic,” he said, walking both girls through the snow Wednesday. “They were both terrified.”

“They banged on the door when we went to play in the snow,” Monroe Taylor, the oldest daughter, said.

This story was originally published January 22, 2025 at 10:56 AM.

Josh Shaffer

The News & Observer

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Josh Shaffer is a general assignment reporter on the watch for “talkers,” which are stories you might discuss around a water cooler. He has worked for The News & Observer since 2004 and writes a column about unusual people and places.