Emily Argueta Montes de Oca, a 22-year-old woman from Durham, NC, was tragically killed on April 7, 2022. The incident occurred at the Lakemoor Apartments on Avon Lake Drive, where police responded to a shooting call in the afternoon. Upon arrival, officers found Emily Montes de Oca deceased at the scene. A 27-year-old man, Carlos Cortes, was also found injured and was transported to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
The suspect in the shooting, 26-year-old Erick Ray
Hudson, barricaded himself inside an apartment and refused to come out for nearly eight hours. Members of the Durham Police Department's Selective Enforcement Team eventually entered the apartment and took Hudson into custody around 10:30 p.m. on the same day. Hudson was charged with murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.
Arrest records revealed that Emily Montes de Oca, Carlos Cortes, and Erick Ray Hudson were roommates. The shooting did not appear to be related to any prior incidents in the area, and it was not considered a random act. Neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots and described the chaotic scene that unfolded. One neighbor, a nurse, provided assistance to Carlos Cortes by applying pressure to his wounds while he repeatedly asked about his wife, referring to Emily Montes de Oca.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and the Durham Police Department has urged anyone with information to come forward. The community has been deeply affected by the tragic loss of Emily Montes de Oca, and a memorial fund has been established in her honor to support her family and seek justice for her untimely death.
