Police: Woman killed in Apex parking lot, ex-boyfriend charged with first-degree murder

A man is charged with first-degree murder after Apex police say he killed his ex-girlfriend Monday at the office where she worked in Beaver Creek Commons.

Police said Felicia Barbee-Battle, 30, was killed before 8:30 a.m. in the 1500 block of Beaver Creek Commons Drive, near the Molly Maid office. Barbee-Battle is a Molly Maid employee, according to the Apex Police Department.

Apex police said Barbee-Battle's ex-boyfriend, Tevin Leach, 30, of Holly Springs, had visited Molly Maid previously. Barbee-Battle was inside the business Monday morning when police say Leach asked her to come outside and speak with him.

According to police, gunshots were heard within seconds after the two exited the building. Barbee was treated at the scene and transported to a hospital with gunshot wounds, where she was pronounced dead.

Police said Leach fled the scene in a gold or beige older model sedan with tinted windows after the shooting.

Following an hours-long manhunt, Leach was arrested at the Days Inn on Highway 17 in Jacksonville, N.C. He faces a first-degree murder charge and is due in court Tuesday afternoon.

'A great person': Coworkers remember friend

WRAL News spoke at the scene with Kim Chance, who called 911 and tried to save Barbee-Battle. Chance has worked with Barbee-Battle for 10 years.

"[She was a] great person -- humble and as sweet as she could be," Chance said. "I had just said good morning to her, she came in bubbly and everything."

Chance claims Leach came "barging in" five minutes after Barbee-Battle arrived at work.

"He looked like the devil – raged, angry, screaming. He could have shot all of us.

"He said, 'I'm leaving, you better not call 911,'" said Chance, who was already on the phone with 911.

"I said, 'I'm gonna lock the door,' she said, 'No, that's okay,' then I said, 'Felicia, don't go out there,' but she did anyway," Chance described.

Chance said by the time she got outside to check on her friend, Barbee-Battle was on the ground beside her car. "I was laying on top her trying to get her to wake up. I was shaking," Chance said.

Other employees on Monday told WRAL News Barbee-Battle was a mother of two boys.

They described her as "bubbly and fun" and "the best friend you could have."

Sky 5 flew over the scene Monday as police were placing evidence markers. Police blocked off a few stores in the shopping center as they investigated.