'He was in his own home:' Family grieves man shot in home invasion police believe was planned

Police believe the home invasion was planned. They reported that lights were turned out to the entire building before multiple people kicked the door in. Aaron Bailey, 25, was shot in the heart and died before even hitting the ground, police said.

Elijah Hosea Everett, also 25, was Bailey's roommate. He also died.

The shooting happened at the Cadence at RTP apartment complex, around two miles away from North Carolina Central University and five miles away from Duke University.

"He was in his own home," said Daizsa Jones, Bailey's first cousin. "Someone unwillingly came in and took his life. That’s just a saddest part about it."

She says Bailey was a sweet person who loved his family, basketball, music and God.

"He loved his family. He loved protecting us," she said. "He was just a sweet guy. He wasn’t violent. He wasn’t even mean. He was funny. He was caring. He was everything."

She remembers his laugh, and how he always made others smile.

"I’m going to miss his laugh. His goofy, annoying laugh," she said. "He could make everybody laugh. That's how Aaron was. He can make anybody happy."

She says it's terrifying that he wasn't even safe in his own home.

"The middle of the night. You're just living life and you get your life taken," she says. "He was trying to live a good life."

Jones wanted to speak on his behalf to ensure his memory was upheld. If she could tell him anything now, she said she'd want him to know she loves him like a brother and will never forget him.

"I love them with all my heart. That’s all I wouldn’t want to tell him. I just want him to know I love him," she says.