Raleigh Man Hit With Federal Charges after allegedly killing a driver in a Garner road rage shooting and opening fire on officers during a tense apartment standoff in north Raleigh.
RALEIGH, N.C. — A Raleigh man already accused of killing a driver in a road rage shooting is now staring down the FEDS after a dramatic shootout with police that left two officers injured and a baby caught in the chaos.
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Authorities say Solomon Owens has been slapped with a federal charge for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon — and prosecutors aren’t playing with him.
Road Rage Turns Deadly in Garner
According to investigators, the violence started on February 9 in Garner near Timber Drive and Vandora Springs Road. Police say Owens allegedly gunned down 48-year-old Joseph Adams during what they described as a road rage confrontation.
Court documents claim Owens believed Adams didn’t allow him to change lanes — and that split-second traffic dispute allegedly escalated into murder.
Garner police quickly secured murder warrants.
Raleigh Shootout Leaves Officers Injured
On February 19, officers with the Raleigh Police Department tracked Owens to an apartment on Woodbend Drive in north Raleigh.
When officers forced entry into the apartment to arrest him, investigators say Owens opened fire — unloading about 10 rounds from an AR-style pistol.
One officer was struck in the helmet. Another officer’s ballistic shield was hit.
Miraculously, both officers survived.
Baby Used as Human Shield?
According to a federal criminal complaint, after firing shots, Owens allegedly ran out of the apartment and hid behind a woman holding an infant.
Former Raleigh police officer and attorney Lee Turner said that move made the situation even more dangerous.
“It makes it much more difficult to the officers, because they now have to consider they have an innocent subject in the line of fire.”
Police ultimately deployed a non-lethal sponge round, striking Owens in the leg and taking him into custody.
Now, federal prosecutors say Owens possessed a Radical Firearms Model 300BLK rifle despite being legally prohibited from having a gun.
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Owens is currently being held without bond at the Wake County Detention Center.
If convicted on the murder charge and federal weapons charge, he could face life behind bars.
