Apex shooting: Woman called 911 before she was shot by neighbor, police say

The Apex Police Department on Friday shared new 911 calls, revealing what happened in the moments before two women were shot and killed in their own neighborhood.

Posted 5:28 p.m. Jan 19 — Updated 10:28 p.m. Jan 19

Matt Talhelm

, WRAL reporter

The Apex Police Department on Friday shared new 911 calls, revealing what happened in the moments before two women were shot and killed in their own neighborhood.

The news conference was held four days after the Jan. 15 killings of 37-year-old Gabrielle Raymond and 69-year-old Nancy Taylor in their South Walk Townhomes neighborhood.

Officers found the women laying in the front yard of a home on Chipping Drive. Both were taken to the hospital, where they died.

Harry Hardman, 37, a former U.S. Army captain, was charged with the murders of the women, who were his neighbors.

Hardman, 37, was charged with two counts of murder and one count of animal cruelty in connection to a shooting in Apex which killed two women and a dog.

Hardman also faces an animal cruelty charge, as police officers believe he shot and killed his dog.

Apex Mayor Jacques Gilbert opened Friday's news conference, offering his condolences and thanking first responders. He also asked for privacy and respect for the families of the women.

Apex Police Chief Jason Armstrong also addressed the group, describing in detail the 911 calls expected to be released Friday.

According to police, the first call came in at 3:02 p.m. Monday to the Apex non-emergency line. The caller, a neighbor, reported a man was being loud, "screaming at the sky," pacing back and forth and waving a pool cue in the air, according to Armstrong.

The caller reported a woman walked up to the man and began talking to him. Apex police believe the man was Hardman, and the woman who approached him was Taylor, one of the victims.

A few seconds later, the caller told dispatchers he heard gunshots.

According to Armstrong, the first police officers were dispatched to the scene at 3:05 p.m. The first officers arrived at 3:09 p.m.

A 911 call was placed at 3:05 p.m. from Raymond's cellphone, Armstrong said. Raymond did not get a chance to talk to dispatcher.

"On that 911 call the only thing we heard was gunshots and screams," Armstrong said.

Apex shooting: Neighbor's video may give insight into suspect's motive

A third 911 call made at 3:08 p.m. was from a neighbor who ran outside to confront the gunman, police said. No gunshots were exchanged between Hardman and the caller.

Armstrong said Hardman fled the scene after the encounter, running to his home.

According to police, officers heard a single gunshot in Hardman's backyard, where they found him holding an AR-15 rifle.

When officers asked Hardman to drop the weapon, he complied. He was then arrested.

The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation, although police said Hardman knew his victims.

Neighbors told WRAL News that Taylor was the head of the South Walk homeowners association and believe Hardman may have gotten into an argument with her about issues in the neighborhood.

"We haven't uncovered anything," Armstrong said. "I've heard some of the rumors about HOA issues and things ... that's not anything that we've uncovered that suggests it contributed to what happened that day."

Hardman is due back in court Feb. 5.

Taylor, Raymond families ask for privacy to process grief

Armstrong also shared statements from the families of the victims and from the neighbor who made the first call to 911.

All asked for privacy to process the loss of Taylor and Raymond.

"It is impossible to adequately describe what our family is going through," Taylor's family said. "We have a strong faith in God and know Nancy will forever watch over our family.

Raymond's family said, "Our hearts are broken and our minds cannot comprehend how or why such a bright light and future was taken too soon from this world."

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