Friends remember woman killed near Raleigh mall

Kimberly Dianne Richardson, 25, died early Sunday at WakeMed after being shot Saturday night in the parking lot of Party City, at 3604 Sumner Blvd. in Raleigh, which is across the street from the Triangle Town Center mall.

Richardson was six months pregnant, and surgeons were able to save her baby girl.

Daniel Joseph Steele, 25, was charged with first-degree murder in Richardson's death.

Friends say Steele was the father of Richardson's child but that the couple was having some issues recently.

Richardson worked at the Zales jewelry store in the mall, and Steele previously worked as a mall security guard. He resigned last fall and has been working in security at Cameron Village.

Steele said little during his brief court appearance, when he was ordered held without bond. His next court date is May 11.

Richardson called 911 to report the shooting, telling the dispatcher "I've been shot." After giving her location, she said, "I can't talk."

When the dispatcher asked what happened, she said, "He shot me."

Friends said Richardson was overjoyed about becoming a mother and had already named the baby Lacy. They called her a bright light who will be missed.

"She would just start singing and just made everybody's day better," Stefan Byerley said. "She was funny. She was fun to be around, just always had a smile about her."

Byerley met Richardson 10 years ago when they were in a church play together. Since then, they had collaborated on short films, he said.

"She had that bright, happy personality that came across on the screen," he said.

Steele's neighbors said he was quiet and that Richardson was a frequent visitor to his home.

"I never expected anything to happen, but you know, it's just something, you can always put your finger on something when something's not right with their family," neighbor Briana Matthews said. "I'm praying for them."