Three people fatally shot in Rocky Mount

Rocky Mount, N.C. — Police are investigating the fatal shooting of three people at 916 B Benvenue Road in Rocky Mount.

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Police received a call at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in reference to a shooting at a mobile home, near U.S. Highway 64.

Upon arrival, officers found the bodies of Lynda Schowengerdt, 56; William Wesley “Wes” Schowengerdt, 53; and Alexander “Alex” Walker, 21.

Witnesses told police that Wes Schowengerdt and his stepson, Walker, had been arguing when Wes Schowengerdt shot Walker with a handgun.

Wes Schowengerdt then shot his wife, Lynda, and then shot himself on the front porch of the home, according to witnesses.

Dennis Pettaway, who works near the shooting scene, said when he first heard the gunshot he thought it was a firecracker.

"I heard one (gunshot) first, then I heard a lady holler. And then ... I heard another pop,” Pettaway recalled.

Paramedics transported Walker to Nash General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Schowengerdts were pronounced dead at the residence.

"It is crazy,” Walker’s cousin, Wade Cherry, said.

However, Cherry said he was not completely surprised by what happened. There had been arguments before between stepson and stepfather, people at the scene told WRAL News.

Police said Wednesday evening that their investigation into the shooting continued.