Neighbors rally for victims of Oakwood home invasion

As Jason Beyer and his wife continue to mentally and physically recover from wounds they suffered in a violent January home invasion in Raleigh's Oakwood neighborhood, friends and family remain at their side. On Saturday, they held a charity walk/run to help pay for ongoing medical expenses and to help make the Beyers' home wheelchair accessible.

Posted 5:42 p.m. May 11, 2013 — Updated 11:29 a.m. May 12, 2013

RALEIGH, N.C. — As Jason Beyer and his wife continue to mentally and physically recover from wounds they suffered in a violent January home invasion in Raleigh's Oakwood neighborhood, friends and family remain at their side.

On Saturday, they held a charity walk/run to help pay for ongoing medical expenses and to help make the Beyers' home wheelchair accessible.

Jason Beyer, who recently returned to his job at Cornerstone Therapeutics after eight weeks of rehab in Atlanta, is in a wheelchair after being shot in the back. Despite receiving a check for $25,700 Saturday, Beyer said the support he and his wife have received from their community is what truly matters.

"Without the support, I just couldn't imagine the world without the support," Jason Beyer said.

Jessica Beyer, Jason's wife, cried when talking about the impact more than 200 walkers and runners had on her.

"You can't express it," she said. "It means so much to have people come out and help us."

According to police, Jahaad Tariem Allah Marshall, 26, and his brother, Shabar Master Marshall, 16, broke into the Beyer home on Jan. 7 as the couple slept, sexually assaulted Jessica and shot Jason. The men face numerous charges in the case, including attempted murder, first-degree burglary, first-degree kidnapping, attempted murder and first-degree forcible sex offense.

WRAL does not release the names of sexual assault victims, but Jessica Beyer agreed to speak on camera at Saturday's charity walk.

"That experience was so horrible," Jessica Beyer said Saturday. "But so many good things...good people show up and help you out."

Neighbor Chris Hill said Saturday's event is another way for the community to try and help the Beyers' return to a normal life.

"I do believe it was an isolated incident, and the last thing you want to do is let the crime affect your life and make you not do the things you want to enjoy doing."

Before Beyer even returned from the hospital, a local builder installed a ramp to help Jason enter his home. With Saturday's funds, the couple plans to continue renovations.

"It's all great," Jason Beyer said. "It's all things that are going to help me enjoy my house again. See the second floor, use my deck, little things like that."

Jessica Beyer said the money even helps the mental healing process that is still ongoing.

"It makes you not angry, I guess, because you see how much good there is," she said.

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