Charges upgraded to murder for shooting suspect after one victim dies

{Lexington Police Chief Robby Rummage during Tuesday’s press conference where he announced that charges against Zackary Plowman have been upgraded to murder following the death of one of the victims of the Virginia Drive shooting Saturday. Elisabeth Strillacci, Davidson Local}

Charges against alleged shooter Zackary Lee Plowman have been upgraded to murder and his initial bond revoked following the death of one of the victims in the Feb. 3 shooting on Virginia Drive.

Chief Robby Rummage said his department learned Tuesday morning that Rigoberto “Rigo” Mejia Gonzalez, 48, died Monday night from gunshots he suffered at his home Saturday, meaning Plowman has now been served a warrant for murder. Plowman was first arraigned on Monday on a litany of charges including attempted murder and kidnapping.

According to Mejia’s family, he leaves behind his wife , three sons, a daughter and three granddaughters. His oldest son, Miguel, was one of the other victims in the shooting and he remains in critical condition.

At a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the Lexington police department, Rummage went through a time line of events from Saturday into Sunday that led to Plowman’s arrest.

Sometime on Saturday, not long before the shooting, Plowman reportedly caused damage to two cars, slashing tires and smashing car windows, at Jerry Hunt Auto Center on Piedmont Drive. That night, Lexington police received the call just after 9 p.m. that there was a shooting on Virginia Drive.

Rummage said officers were already in the area and heard the shots fired and were moving in the direction of the sounds when one of the victims, Anthony Fritz, 25, came running down 9th Street yelling for help.

“The officers determined he had gunshot wounds, and began calling for other officers immediately, while getting information about where this occurred,” said Rummage. Other officers arrived at the residence in the 800 block of Virginia Avenue and were “met with a chaotic scene” he said. They noticed two other gunshot victims and “immediately began rendering emergency aid while collecting information and maintaining the scene.”

Shortly after that shooting, Davidson County Sheriff Deputies responded to a call of shots fired on Old Greensboro Street Extension.

“We believe that to involve the same suspect based on descriptions we have been given,” Rummage said, though that investigation falls under the Davidson County Sheriff’s purview.

Lexington officers spotted Plowman’s car in the Winston Road area in the early hours of Sunday and gave chase. Plowman got away from officers but apparently crashed the vehicle on the side of the road. Police found the car and were able to process evidence, including the rifle used in the shooting, which had been left in the Dodge Charger.

The search continued until Sunday morning when they received information of the Sunday break-in at Community Fellowship Moravian Church and the armed carjacking of the church’s minister and his wife.

The ensuing coordinated investigation between Lexington police and Davidson County Sheriff’s deputies confirmed that the suspect in all cases was the same.

“I can’t get into details about the evidence that goes to prove it, but the coordinated investigation confirms it was the same suspect,” said Rummage. “This investigation is very much ongoing, still very active as we continue to put together the pieces. Our role is to make the best case possible for prosecution.”

“Our defendant in this case has zero regard for human life,” added Rummage. He said there is not yet any evidence of motive in the case, as “that is something that takes a lot of time and we are still putting information together.” Asked if it could be racially motived, he said “we just don’t know yet.” It is worth pointing out that Plowman stayed in the area where the crimes occurred rather than trying to leave. When he kidnapped the couple in Welcome, he let them out on City Lake Drive near Sink Road, then drove the vehicle up JD Essick Road before abandoning the vehicle, then wound up back on Old Greensboro Street Extension when he was caught by a DCSO K9 officer Sunday night.

Meanwhile, the family of Rigoberto Mejia Gonzalez is left with few answers right now. Mejia’s daughter, Mariana Mejia, has established a GoFundMe for her father and for her brother, Miguel Mejia Couto, who continues to fight for his life at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist hospital in Winston-Salem. The third victim, Fritz, has been treated and released.

“Anyone that knew my father knew he was a very nice and funny man, he never did harm to anyone and had the greatest heart. He was a strong and firm believer of God and his plans,” she wrote in the description. (“Cualquiera que conociera a mi padre sabía que era un hombre muy amable y divertido, nunca le hizo daño a nadie y tenía el mejor corazón, era un hombre fuerte. y firme creyente de dios y sus planes.”)

The family member who answered the door Tuesday afternoon asked that people continue to lift up prayers for Miguel as he is continuing to struggle.

Anyone who wishes to contribute to the GoFundMe for the family may do so at https://gofund.me/27805c11.