APEX, NC – A deadly neighborhood shooting took place in Apex on Monday night. The suspected gunman has been identified as former U.S. Army Captain Harry Hardman. Hardman, 37, was arrested right after the incident and is now facing charges of both murder and animal cruelty.
Hardman was presented before the court on Tuesday afternoon, where he was appointed a capital defender. His next court hearing is scheduled for Feb. 5.
As confirmed by the neighbors, one of the two female victims was identified as Nancy Taylor. The second victim, as per the family, was Gabrielle Raymond, aged 36. Sadly, a dog was also killed in the shooting incident. Raymond’s parents have informed that Raymond and Taylor were friends. It’s believed that the dog that was killed was owned by Hardman.
The police are still investigating connections between Hardman and his victims, although it is confirmed that he knew the victims.
The Apex officers first responded to a disturbance call at the intersection of Brussels Drive and Chipping Drive at around 3 p.m. Monday. The call was later escalated to a shots fired call. Upon arrival at the scene, officers found the two women and the dog, with the women being immediately rushed to the hospital.
The crime scene, narrated by locals, told a tale of a violent struggle, with shattered glass from Hardman’s front door lying around the walkway and a visible bullet hole in the siding of a nearby townhouse.
The U.S. Army confirmed that Hardman was a former captain who served between 2005 and 2019, and that he had graduated from the military academy in 2009. Meanwhile, the West Point Association of Graduates stated multiple weapons were recovered from his home.
Apex Mayor Jacques Gilbert expressed his sadness over the news and extended his prayers and condolences to those affected.
As the investigation continues, police have reassured the community that there is no ongoing threat to the public as the last murder in Apex town was reported in 2020.