Rigoberto Rigo Mejia Gonzalez, 48, was fatally shot during a family gathering at his Virginia Drive home in Lexington, North Carolina. The shooting occurred on February 3, 2024; Mejia was wounded that day and died of his injuries on February 5. His son Miguel Mejia Couto and another man, Anthony Fritts, were also shot—Miguel remained in critical condition.

Authorities say 39-year-old Zackary Lee Plowman of Rural Hall approached the residence and opened fire. After the shooting Plowman broke into Community Fellowship Moravian Church and spent the night there, then the next morning held the pastor and the pastor’s wife at knifepoint and stole their vehicle. Law enforcement arrested Plowman later that evening on Old Greensboro Road. Initial charges included attempted murder and kidnapping and were upgraded to murder after Mejia’s death; Plowman was on pretrial release for a prior Forsyth County homicide and previously served over a decade for a 2007 second-degree murder conviction.

The Mejia family organized fundraisers for funeral and medical costs and held demonstrations asking for answers and accountability; community members gathered in support. If anyone who knew Rigo or Miguel has information about the shooting or what led up to it, please share what you can.