Raleigh Police release report detailing gunfire exchange involving Garner murder suspect

Nearly a week after the violent arrest of the man accused of killing Joseph “Joey” Adams in Garner, a Raleigh police report has revealed new details in the case.

The department released its five-day report following last week’s shooting where shots were fired by police and the suspect.

It happened Thursday night, Feb. 19, at an apartment complex in north Raleigh as police were trying to arrest 26-year-old Solomon Owens of Durham.

The shooting happened just after 7 p.m. when members of the department’s Selective Enforcement Unit approached the front door of a residence in the 7100 block of Woodbend Drive, trying to locate Owens.

When the door opened, the report states that Owens fired 10 shots from an AR-pistol, striking officer J. Rich in his ballistic helmet and a second officer’s ballistic shield.

A separate officer fired two shots in response but did not strike Owens.

Shortly after, Owens and a woman, who was holding a small child, exited the apartment.

Owens is accused of killing Adams, a father of five who was found shot to death Feb. 9 in a car in Garner.

Another officer on the scene used a less-lethal option called a sponge round to immobilize Owens, who was then taken into custody.

Owens suffered minor injuries during his arrest. He was not shot, as previous reports indicated.

The officer struck on the helmet was taken to WakeMed and released.

A possible motive

According to a federal criminal complaint, road rage may have been a factor in the Feb. 9 shooting of Adams.

According to the complaint, Owens’ girlfriend called the Garner Police tipline and gave the details of the murder.

The complaint alleges the girlfriend said the two were making a DoorDash delivery from Raleigh to Garner when she fell asleep. She told officers that she woke up to the sounds of six or seven gunshots and looked over to see the victim slumped over, wearing a yellow construction vest.

The girlfriend said Owens later showed her a Facebook post about the shooting, and Owens told her that the victim wouldn’t let him over, so he handled it.

“We are devastated by this horrific crime, and our prayers are with Joseph Adams’ family and all who loved him,” a spokesperson for DoorDash told ABC11. “The suspect has never been a Dasher on our platform. The individual who accompanied him at the time of the shooting held a Dasher account and has been deactivated. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement and hope justice is served for Mr. Adams and his family.”

Neighbors rattled by exchange of gunfire

On Thursday night, ABC11 was back in the neighborhood where the shooting and Owens’ subsequent arrest happened. Some residents said they are still dealing with the trauma of that night but are grateful that a man accused of murder is off the streets.

“I’ve never seen the guy that’s accused of it,” one neighbor said.

Residents in Aria North Hills said they don’t know Owens or why he was in their apartment building last Thursday.

But what happened here has shaken these neighbors to the core

Right across from where the shootout between Owens and Raleigh SWAT team members took place lies Michael Clein’s home. He has only lived here a month, and now his home is riddled with bullet holes.

“Every time I open my door, it is like, boom. That could have been my face,” Clein said.

There were bullet holes in the living room walls, his chair, and his bedroom.

“There were six of them in total, but I’ve only found, like, four,” he said.

Like other neighbors, Clein was relieved that Owens was behind bars.

“I’m glad you got a murderer off the street,” he said. “I hope there is justice.”

He is also facing federal charges of possession of a gun by a felon.

Owens is being held without bail.

The RPD officer who fired his weapon has since been cleared to return to duty.

ABC11 is The News & Observer’s newsgathering partner.

This story was originally published February 27, 2026 at 8:25 AM.