They planned to marry. After Raleigh mass shooting, he builds a life alone
On the day that was supposed to be his wedding day, Rob Steele was instead at a celebration of life for his fiancée.
Instead of seeing her in her wedding gown, a dress she had modeled for friends and family but not her groom, Steele saw it hanging on a mannequin.
Mary Marshall was one of five people killed in a mass shooting in Raleigh on Oct. 13, 2022.
A year later, Steele is still dealing with the fallout of planning a life without her.
"We should be married and living our life, but she is gone and I'm here living without her," he said.
Marshall was out on the Neuse River Greenway, walking her dog, Scruff. He had slipped out of his collar, was running loose, and she called Steele for help.
He heard gunshots through the phone.
Marshall was shot multiple times on the greenway. Scruff never left her side.
Steele can't bring himself to go back to a place that used to bring the couple peace.
"I'm not ready to make memories down there without her," he said.
He still lives in the home they shared in the Hedingham neighborhood.
"The way Scruff follows me around makes me think of her all the time," Steele said.
He's pushing forward. Each day still has its ups and downs, highs and lows.
"I think about her before I go to bed at night," he said. "Sometimes I talk to her. It's hard not hearing her voice."
"I still wake up every morning and ask myself, 'What would Mary want me to do today?'"
And it's hard, he says, not having answers or justice yet for his fiancée, the other victims and those that were injured. He said he's still angry.
"It's directed at the shooter and those who allowed him access to a firearm," he said.
Steele said he's grateful that the suspected shooter and his former neighbor, Austin Thompson, will be tried as an adult.
"I hope he spends his life in prison," Steele said.
Meanwhile, he's trying to turn tragedy into change.
Steele announced a run for Raleigh City Council in 2024.
"This is something I think she would be proud of," he said. "Mary was very big on pay it forward if you are able to pay it forward. I can do that getting involved in city government. It is what has the most impact on our day-to-day lives."
