Food Lion shooting victim describes horrific scene

WENDELL, N.C.

Nineteen-year-old  Laquanda Beecher was one of three people shot inside the store. She and 22-year-old Shaquita Baker were treated and released from WakeMed.

The other victim, 20-year-old Jason Jeffrey, remains in critical condition. His family says he's lost a kidney and has a fractured femur.

Meanwhile, Beecher says she's just grateful to be alive.

"The bullet went through my arm, like straight through," said Beecher.

With a wounded arm and bullet lodged in her hip, Beecher is recovering at home surrounded by her family.

"I was scared, real scared," said Beecher.

Beecher's first day on the job as a Food Lion employee turned violent when police say Tariq Taylor got into a dispute with his boyfriend, Jason Jeffrey, inside the store.

Beecher, Jeffrey, and third Food Lion employee hid inside a store office.

"He was telling the shooter, 'leave me alone' or whatever," said Beecher. "And then him and the girl finally had got the door closed. And the shooter just started shooting under the door."

All three were shot but Jeffrey was wounded the worst.

"He was just like 'I don't want to die here. Don't let me die here. Don't let me die here.' and the girl was just like 'you're not going to die. We've got you. You're not going to die,'" recalled Beecher.

Police say Taylor eventually fled the scene. However, the terror continued until police arrived.

"I was like 'I'm about to die.' That was the first thought that came to my mind," said Beecher.

A manhunt got underway for Taylor while paramedics rushed the three victims to the hospital.

Taylor was found dead Thursday in a barn less than a mile away from the store.

"At this point, it's an apparent suicide," said Wendell Police Chief Vance Johnson. "The investigation is continuing by the Sheriff's Department."

But Beecher says it could have ended with more deaths.

"I just thank God I'm here and I'm not dead," said Beecher.

Beecher says the first thing she wants to do when she fully recovers is to play a game of football.

Classifieds | Report A Typo |  Send Tip |  Get Alerts | See Click Fix
Follow @abc11 on Twitter  |  Become a fan on Facebook

Copyright © 2024 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.