Sequoia Howard, a 34-year-old mother of four, was shot and killed inside her home in St. Pauls, North Carolina, on Thursday evening, November 5. Her boyfriend, Roman Morales, 34, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with her death. The shooting has left four children without their mother and raised painful questions about what happened inside the home that night.
The shooting happened at around 7 p.m. at a residence on McLean Street, according to St. Pauls Police Chief Michael Owens. Authorities say Morales allegedly shot Howard during the incident. Police have not publicly explained what led to the shooting or what happened between the couple before the gunfire.
What makes the case particularly painful is that children were present when the shooting happened. According to police, Morales and Howard’s children were at the residence. Morales had three children of his own, while Howard was a mother of four. At least three of her children were reportedly present at the time.
After the shooting, Morales allegedly left the home with his three children. Howard’s children were left behind, according to reports about the incident. The circumstances surrounding their departure have added another troubling detail to a case that has already left a family devastated.
Howard’s father was also reportedly at the residence when the shooting happened. A neighbor, Lisa Benton, told The Robesonian that she did not initially hear gunshots or any unusual activity. She later heard screaming and noticed emergency vehicles arriving outside.
Benton recalled hearing Howard’s father shouting that someone had shot his daughter. The neighbor said the scene was difficult to take in, especially knowing that children were involved. Her granddaughter had often played with Howard’s and Morales’ children, and the children had reportedly been looking forward to a sleepover planned for Friday night.
Benton also spoke about Howard as a person, describing her as sweet and someone who loved her children. She said Howard worked at Walmart and was known as a hard worker. Although Benton said she had known Morales longer, she admitted that she never imagined something like this happening.
Morales was later taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder and discharging a firearm within city limits. He was booked into the Robeson County Detention Center. During his first court appearance on Friday morning, November 6, he was not given bond and remained in custody.
The St. Pauls Police Department is investigating the shooting with assistance from the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities have not released further details about what led to the deadly incident, and the investigation remains ongoing.
For Howard’s four children, the loss goes far beyond the criminal charges now facing their mother’s boyfriend. They have lost the person who raised them and whose presence was part of their everyday lives. Her family is now left to deal with a loss that no child should have to face.