Three die in domestic slaying

Police: Man shot stepson, wife, self

Three people were shot and killed Wednesday evening following a domestic dispute at a Rocky Mount residence in what police are calling a double-murder-suicide.

Witnesses told police 53-year-old Wes Schowengerdt shot his 21-year-old stepson, Alex Walker, with a handgun following a verbal altercation at their home on the 900 block of Benvenue Road. Walker ran from the residence, authorities said, before collapsing in front of the single-wide trailer, located a few hundred feet behind the Merita Bread Box bakery.

Schowengerdt reportedly then shot his wife, 56-year-old Lynda Schowengerdt, before turning the gun on himself, officials said.

Emergency crews attempted to resuscitate Walker as they carried him on a stretcher from the residence on the 900 block of Benvenue Road. Walker died en route to Nash General Hospital, officials said.

Lynda Schowengerdt could be seen lying lifeless on the porch outside the single-wide trailer, minutes after the shooting. Both Wes and Lynda Schowengerdt died at the scene, investigators said.

Police would not say how many times or where the victims were shot.

More than a dozen officers and a handful of ambulances were on the scene by 5 p.m., shortly after the incident was reported. Police were still on scene a few hours later collecting evidence.

It is yet unclear what might have triggered the incident, authorities said.

“An investigation is ongoing,” Capt. Laura Fahnstock said while at the scene.