Raleigh police ID victim, suspect in Cameron Village shooting

Police named her ex-husband, Christopher John Bertrand, 42, of Hoover, Ala., as the suspect in the shooting. He later committed suicide behind a building at 1015 Wade Ave.

The couple's three children were in the care of family members Tuesday, police said.

Bertrand shot his ex-wife several times with a handgun around 9:30 a.m. in the 400 block of Daniels Street as she arrived to work at Pier 1 Imports, police said.

A 911 caller, who identified herself as Bertrand's employer, said she saw Christopher Bertrand get into a car with her before hearing gunshots.

"I went to the office, and I was walking back up, and I thought she was banging on the door, but I think it was gunshots," the distraught caller said. "When I went out there, her eyes were open and it looked like she was dead. There was lots of blood."

More than a dozen schools went on lockdown as police began searching for Bertrand.

Shortly before 2 p.m., police responded to a second shooting at 1015 Wade Ave., a short distance from Cameron Village. There, they found Christopher Bertrand's body.

A 911 caller told dispatchers "the suspect you all have been looking for at Cameron Village just shot himself in the head."

"I heard a shot. I was about to get in my car, I looked over and saw him just laying there, shot to the head," the caller said.

About the time Bertand's body was discovered, Wake County public schools lifted its “code yellow” lockdown.

North Carolina State University was not locked down, school officials said, because police "determined (the shooter) was not a threat to campus." However, Wolfline bus service to Cameron Village was canceled temporarily.

A Cameron Village manager said there are no security cameras in the area. At least 10 stores were closed Monday due to the shooting. Pier 1 Imports will remain closed Tuesday.