APEX, NC – Gunfire unraveled the usual tranquillity of an Apex neighborhood near downtown on Monday afternoon, leaving two women and a dog fatally shot. Among the shocked residents, Tom McKay recounted hearing six to eight gunshots at about 3 pm. Shortly after, a disturbance call from the location reached the Apex Police Department. The call was soon escalated to a shots fired report.
Responding officers found two women who had been shot multiple times. Despite immediate treatment and hospitalization, both victims failed to survive the attack. Nearby, a dog was also found shot dead.
Apex Mayor Jacques Gilbert expressed his grief over the tragedy and commended first responders for their courageous efforts. As police officers continued to investigate the scene, more gunshots led them to discover a suspect. The man was arrested without incident.
Apex Police identified the detainee as Harry Bates Hardman, 37, who is listed as a resident of Brussels Drive in Apex. Hardman now faces two counts of murder and one count of animal cruelty and is currently detained in Wake County Jail.
Nancy Taylor is among the two deceased women, as confirmed by family members. She had moved to the neighborhood three years earlier to live closer to her grandchildren and gained popularity among resident children by the nickname “grandma”. Taylor was also identified as the owner of the dog killed in the shooting.
Family members identified the other deceased victim as 36-year-old Gabrielle Raymond.
Hardman is scheduled for court appearance at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.