Officer injured in shooting at Raleigh condo complex was hit by friendly fire

The preliminary investigation of the injury to Officer C.N. Chandler shows that his was hit when another officer fired his gun.

The shooting happened at about 2:40 p.m. Wednesday as officers with the Raleigh Police Department responded to a residential break-in call at 1230 University Court, at the Lake Park Condominiums, a complex near the intersection of Avent Ferry and Lake Dam roads.

Chandler, Officer R.D. VanHouten and Officer T.A. Dunford encountered Chijioke Kennedy Madueke, 28, who was armed with a knife, and one of the officers fired his weapon to subdue Madueke.

Chandler and Madueke were both taken to WakeMed for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Chandler was released Thursday, and Madueke remained at WakeMed.

Police said Madueke was evicted from a condo he was renting for not paying rent. An eviction notice was served on Madueke on Oct. 24 by the owner, Siddharth Patel. Patel wrote about Madueke saying, "he is also physical, he pushed me with intent to hit."

On Wednesday, deputies returned to the condo with Patel to change the locks so that Madueke would not be able to get inside. According to a 911 call, Makueke tried to break in the condo.

"I had an eviction this morning. The Sheriff came out and we did a lock out, uh, the tenant broke in and entered the premise and he is there right there, he is there," the 911 caller said.

Investigators said Madueke had a knife and got into a struggle with Chandler. During the encounter, both men were shot.

Rahem Bryant moved to the apartment complex less than a month ago and said the scene he came home to Wednesday afternoon is not the neighborhood he has come to know over the past three weeks.

"I just got home and a whole bunch of police tape is out here and everything," he said. "[The neighborhood] is peaceful. I don't really see any trouble out of no one; never loud, no loud music or anything. It's surprising. "

Bryant said, despite the incident, he isn't afraid to keep living in the area.

"I feel like it's still going to be a safe place, just something happened," he said.

Madueke's upstairs neighbor, Meredith Dann, said he often tried to get her attention by yelling at her.

"I would ignore him," Dann said. "I had nothing to say to (him). I don't like being catcalled like that. It is so disrespectful."

Mayor Nancy McFarlane issued this statement after the shooting:

"Today, there are many questions related to the shooting that occurred yesterday afternoon that left both the suspect and a Raleigh police officer injured. As is standard practice, the State Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent investigation of yesterday's events that will be reported directly to the Wake County District Attorney's office. Consistent with City policy, the City will complete a five-day report for the city manager, which will then be distributed to the City Council and the public. The five-day report allows the appropriate time to review the incident, take witness statements, and outline the facts as they are known at the time.

“I do not have additional information to share at this time. I do ask the public to join me in wishing all those involved a speedy recovery and I would echo what we've heard recently in our Community Conversations: As a community we need to support each other in difficult times and not make assumptions or rush to judgment. We are able to face adversity when we stand together as a community.”

The three officers were placed on administrative assignment, which is standard procedure after an officer fires a weapon in the line of duty.

Chandler joined the Raleigh Police Department in 2013. VanHouten started with the RPD 2010, and Duford joined in 2011.

Madueke was charged with felony assault in August 2015 when Cary police said he tried to stab his brother with a steak knife. A month later, Madueke pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and was sentenced to 30 days in jail. He was a student at Wake Tech from 2009-2012, although he did not earn a degree.