Man accused of killing 2 women and a dog in Apex had AR-15 rifle, multiple handguns

The man accused of fatally shooting two women in a townhouse community in Apex on Monday was carrying an AR-15 rifle as officers moved to arrest him, the police chief said.

Police identified the women Tuesday evening as 37-year-old Gabrielle Raymond and 69-year-old Nancy Taylor and said they were friends. Both lived in South Walk Townhomes.

The suspect, Harry Bates Hardman, 37, also lives at the complex. He is charged with two counts of murder and with animal cruelty in the killing of a dog.

He was ordered to be held in jail without bail during a brief court appearance and was appointed a capital defender.

The women were shot around 3 p.m. Monday outside a home on Chipping Drive, police said. They were taken to the hospital with serious injuries and later died.

Police responding to the shooting heard more gunfire on Brussels Drive, where Hardman lives. He was taken into custody without incident after dropping the semi-automatic rifle, police said.

What police say happened

Hardman was outside being loud, disturbing the neighborhood, when Taylor came up and began speaking with him, according to an Apex Police Department news release. Raymond soon joined them.

“The three of them were standing in a yard in the 1400 block of Chipping Dr when Mr. Hardman produced a gun and shot both victims,” Police Chief Jason Armstrong said in the release.

Armstrong said officers arrived quickly and saw Hardman entering his home.

As they set up a perimeter, Armstrong said, they saw Hardman exiting his back door holding an AR-15 rifle. Officers told him to drop the weapon, which he did, and arrested him.

Police don’t think the AR-15 rifle was used in the shooting of the two women, Armstrong said. They got a search warrant and found multiple handguns in Hardman’s home, one of which they think is the murder weapon, he said.

Hardman is a former Army captain and West Point graduate, serving from 2009 until 2017, according to ABC11, The News & Observer’s media partner.

‘More victims and more tragedy’ averted, chief says

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the victims, their families and loved ones, and the entire community that has been impacted by this tragic event,” Armstrong said in the release.

“I want to personally express my appreciation for the men and woman of the Apex Police Department who did not hesitate to run towards danger to bring this incident to a quick end,” he added.

“Their bravery stopped this incident from having more victims and more tragedy, and I am grateful for their bravery and swift action.”

‘Sad day for our town,’ says Apex mayor

“This is a sad day for our town,” Apex Mayor Jacques Gilbert said in a statement, media outlets reported. “Anytime there is a tragedy, we hurt as a community. We will continue to pray for all involved.”

Neighbor Tom McKay, a Lee County deputy, was home and watched police take Hardman into custody, according to ABC11.

“To see it like, off duty, is just kind of a completely different perspective,” McKay told ABC11. “I’m just going to keep saying, ‘It’s Apex, I would have never have thought, you know?’ But you never know.”

This story was originally published January 16, 2024 at 7:44 AM with the headline "Man accused of killing 2 women and a dog in Apex had AR-15 rifle, multiple handguns."