On March 25, 2024, 30-year-old Felicia Barbee-Battle was fatally shot outside her workplace, Molly Maid, located in the Beaver Creek Commons Shopping Center in Apex, North Carolina. The incident occurred around 8:23 a.m. when her ex-boyfriend, 30-year-old Tevin Montrell Leach, arrived at her place of employment. Leach entered the business and requested that Barbee-Battle step outside to speak with him.
Despite a coworker's plea for her to remain inside, Barbee-Battle agreed to go outside, where she was subsequently shot multiple times. Emergency responders transported her to a hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries.
Following the shooting, Leach fled the scene in a gold or beige older model sedan with tinted windows. A manhunt ensued, and he was apprehended hours later at a Days Inn on Highway 17 in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Leach was taken into custody without incident and charged with first-degree murder. Investigations revealed that Leach had a history of visiting Barbee-Battle at her workplace, and coworkers were familiar with him due to previous visits.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, coworkers remembered Barbee-Battle as a "bubbly, fun, and hardworking" individual who was dedicated to her two young sons. The community mourned her loss, and discussions about domestic violence were reignited, highlighting the need for better resources and support for individuals in such situations. A grand jury later indicted Leach on charges of first-degree murder, and he remained in custody without bond as the legal process continued.
