Tragic Home Invasion in Raleigh: A Stark Reminder of Personal Security Realities
by Jeff Young
On January 3, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina, a beloved science teacher and department chair at Ravenscroft School, Zoe Welsh, was fatally assaulted in her own home during an early morning burglary. Around 6:30 a.m., Welsh discovered an intruder in her residence on Clay Street and immediately called 911 to report the break-in. Tragically, while she was still on the line with dispatchers, the suspect began attacking her. By the time police arrived minutes later, she had sustained life-threatening injuries and was rushed to the hospital, where she later died.
Authorities quickly apprehended the suspect, 36-year-old Ryan Camacho, nearby. Police have stated there is no indication that Camacho and Welsh knew each other—this appears to have been a random home invasion burglary that turned deadly. Camacho has been charged with first-degree murder and felony burglary.
What makes this case particularly infuriating is Camacho’s extensive criminal history. Court records show over 20 arrests spanning more than a decade in Wake and Durham counties, including serious offenses like escaping from state prison in 2021 and a prior guilty plea for shooting into occupied property. Most recently, in December 2025, breaking-and-entering charges against him were dismissed following a mental competency evaluation—despite prosecutors requesting involuntary commitment, which a judge denied. Yet again, a repeat offender with a long rap sheet was back on the streets, free to victimize innocent people. This is a textbook example of the failures in our revolving-door justice system that prioritizes “release” over public safety.
Neighbors in this established Raleigh neighborhood expressed shock to local media, describing it as a “safe” area where such violence was unthinkable. But as we’ve said time and again here at Lone Pine Tactical: there are no truly safe neighborhoods. Criminals don’t respect boundaries—they go where the opportunities are, and they’re highly mobile.
Key Lessons from This Tragedy
1. No Neighborhood is Immune
Criminals travel. They target homes based on vulnerability, not zip codes. Even in quiet, upscale, or “low-crime” areas like this one near downtown Raleigh, bad actors make “house calls.” Assuming your location alone will protect you is a dangerous illusion.
2. Police Response Time is Not a Reliable Defense
Calling 911 is absolutely the right thing to do—but in a violent home invasion, seconds count, not minutes. Processing the call, dispatching officers, and driving to the scene (even in a responsive department like Raleigh PD) often takes far longer than the attack itself. In this case, police arrived quickly, but it was still too late to prevent the fatal outcome. Relying solely on law enforcement to intervene in real-time is a gamble with million-to-one odds.
3. Your Best Protection is You: Be Armed, Trained, and Prepared
The most effective way to survive a sudden, violent threat in your home is having the means and mindset to defend yourself immediately. Firearms training, situational awareness, home security measures (alarms, reinforced doors, lighting), and a defensive plan give you the power to stop a threat before it escalates to this level of horror. Zoe Welsh did everything “right” by calling for help—but without the ability to repel the attacker in those critical moments, it wasn’t enough.
Our hearts go out to Zoe Welsh’s family, friends, students, and the entire Ravenscroft community. She was described as a dedicated educator, mentor, and mother whose loss is devastating. This didn’t have to happen—and preventable tragedies like this underscore why personal responsibility for self-defense is non-negotiable.
Stay vigilant, train regularly, and protect what’s yours.
Source: WRAL News - Man who broke into Raleigh teacher’s home and killed her has lengthy criminal history
