WENDELL, N.C. (WNCN) — A man killed while driving in Wake County near Wendell Saturday evening was making Door Dash deliveries to help support his wife and children — including a 1-year-girl, his Fayetteville family told CBS 17 Sunday.
Shawn Rouse, 38, was shot and killed just before 6 p.m. Saturday in the 6200 block of Stag Trail, in a neighborhood off Edgemont Road near Wendell, according to a Wake County Sheriff’s Office news release.
As of Sunday afternoon, no arrests had been made in the Fayetteville man’s killing, which Wake County deputies described as the shooting of a “driver.”
Saturday night, deputies had K-9 officers at the scene and said they were searching for a suspect.
Sunday, Rouse’s family was grieving his loss.
“He was my best friend. We went school together,” wife Rudie Rouse told CBS 17.
She and Rouse married in 2022, lived in Fayetteville and had a little girl together. Rouse had a total of eight children — including three with a former wife.
His wife said he was active in the lives of his children. Shawn Rouse’s Facebook page shows many photos of him with his children.
He was working Saturday, making deliveries for Door Dash, wife Rudie Rouse said.
“He was trying to help me with our bills,” she said, adding “it’s been hard” since she learned of his death.
“I’m just numb,” his wife said. “He was an amazing dad to all eight of his kids.”
Rouse’s former wife, LaShann Gray-Lee, said his family was struggling to cope with his death.
“He was a loving husband and father,” said Gray-Lee, who had three children with Rouse. “He wasn’t just some thug — he loved his family truly.”
“He was a great man and someone he trusted killed him,” said Gray-Lee, who was married to Rouse for 11 years.
Sunday afternoon, Wake County deputies said the shooting was still under investigation.
“We believe this to be an isolated incident, and there is no known threat in public,” the Wake County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
