Goldsboro police have identified the attorney killed in a murder-suicide at Riddle & Brantley law firm Monday afternoon.
Lawyer Patrick White, 42, of Raleigh, was killed after an argument at the law firm on Spence Avenue in Goldsboro, according to the incident report.
According to a Riddle & Brantley representative, there was no argument as previously reported by the police. When Gene Riddle spoke with WRAL reporter Chelsea Donovan, he described a chaotic scene of a shooting in which White sacrificed himself and Riddle was the intended target.
“Patrick is our savior,” Riddle shared with the reporter. “He is our hero. It is the way he lived his entire life.”
He said White was representing a husband and wife and requested Riddle’s help. In the morning, Francisco Cazarin Sanchez, who was the shooter, came for mediation with his wife. Early in the session, Riddle said there were no warning signs of the violence that would later break out. They left the couple alone for a short time to talk to one another during the meeting.
After some time had passed, Sanchez walked out of the meeting room with his wife suddenly opened fire on the attorneys. White quickly responded. He yelled the shooter’s name to stop and was pushing the man against the wall. Within seconds, another gunshot rang out, and Patrick White fell to the ground.
After checking on White, Riddle called 911. The entire ordeal took less than 30 seconds, he said. Riddle recalls five shots being fired in total.
Approximately 4:15 p.m., police responded to the scene. Two men were found dead from gunshot wounds upon their arrival.