Rodney Lucas, a 45-year-old African American man from Wendell, North Carolina, was found shot to death outside a home in the 800 block of W. Barbee Street near Zebulon on October 27, 2019. The shooting happened around 3 a.m. after a private party that had been held at a rented commercial business site with several trailers and buildings. Witnesses said an altercation broke out shortly after the party ended and that gunshots were heard before Lucas’ body was discovered.

Mark Ray, a 45-year-old convicted felon from Raleigh, was arrested in connection with the shooting. Ray, who has prior convictions for firearms offenses including a 2008 conviction for shooting another man in Zebulon and multiple convictions for possession of a firearm by a felon, was charged with murder and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was taken into custody by the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, held without bond, and was arraigned on October 28, 2019.

The community reacted with shock and sorrow. The investigation into the circumstances that led to Lucas’ death was ongoing; authorities continued working to piece together events and witness accounts. If anyone attended that event or has information about the altercation or what happened outside the property, please come forward.