Fayetteville police officer, wife found shot, killed inside home

Several neighbors are in shock Saturday afternoon after learning of the double homicide of a Fayetteville police officer and his wife Friday night. The couple were found shot to death inside their home.

Officers found the bodies of Fayetteville Police Officer Domingo Tavarez-Rodriguez and his wife Yenitza Arroyo Torres at their home on 1323 Vandenberg Drive.

After he failed to report for duty, the officers went to the scene to check on Tavarez-Rodriguez. He was supposed to work at 6 p.m.

In a Friday night press conference, Police Chief Kemberle Braden said both were found with apparent gunshot wounds.

Dennis Corbin, a neighbor of Officer Tavarez-Rodriguez, says the two were like brothers, and he and his wife moved into the neighborhood about five years ago.

"While I'm gonna go home, Mingo is not gonna be there. He is not going to come out of the house sometime later on today or tomorrow," said Corbin. "I am not gonna see him waving when he is driving out to work or coming back in."

Corbin says he gave Officer Tavarez-Rodriguez the nickname Mingo and the two had become pretty close over the last couple of years.

While showing a picture to WRAL he also says this is a complete shock to him that something like this happened to Rodriguez and his wife.

In addition, Corbin says Rodriguez shared with him he had PTSD from his time serving in the military.

Chief Braden says due to Tavarez-Rodriguez being an active police officer, the State Bureau of Investigation was requested and this incident will be a criminal investigation.
Tavarez-Rodriguez has been with the Fayetteville Police Department since June 2021.

So far, police have not said whether or not they are actively looking for a suspect. Investigators said there is no threat to public safety.

No further information has been given at this time.