Fatal shooting raises concerns for residents of Cary apartment complex

Wendy Jean Johnson, 58, was shot and killed during an apparent robbery attempt at Hyde Park Apartments on the night of Aug. 22. Johnson, a home health nurse from Sanford, had been visiting a patient at the time.

"Having lived here for 10 years, this is not something that normally happens," Kristy Boykin said Tuesday. "This is not a crime-ridden apartment complex. I feel very safe here."

Other residents, however, say the shooting has changed their perspective of safety and that they don't feel safe.

Some also have questions about the apartment managers’ commitment to safety after it took them several days after the shooting to officially notify residents.

They were frustrated by the letter's wording, which includes a statement informing them that "your well-being is your responsibility and that of local law enforcement."

"You want to feel like they care about your safety," Boykin said.

Property manager Scott Marcewski says the management does care about tenant safety.

A meeting was scheduled for Tuesday evening for residents to hear how they can better protect themselves.

Marcewski says the apartment complex management is also re-evaluating lighting with the help of Cary police and has also hired an off-duty police officer to patrol after-hours.

Brian Austin is a police officer who oversees Hyde Park as part of the Town of Cary's Project Phoenix, a program started about three years ago that's focused on making apartment communities safer.

The majority of complexes, including Hyde Park, are involved in the program.

"It's unnerving. It would be unnerving for anybody," said Austin of Johnson's death. "There's no dancing around that or trying to avoid that."

Meanwhile, Cary police have arrested Daniel Scott Remington, 36, of 501-B6 Gooseneck Drive, on a charge of murder in connection with Johnson's death. His girlfriend, Jessica Renee Parrisher, 28, has been charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.

Although investigators haven't commented publicly on the crime, a search warrant indicates that Remington told police he shot Johnson when she fought back when he tried to steal her purse.

He's being held without bond in the Wake County Detention Center. Parrisher was in jail Tuesday under a $100,000 bond.