DURHAM, NC – In the early morning hours of October 2, 2023, a quiet Durham neighborhood was shattered by a sudden eruption of violence that left one woman dead and another gravely injured, exposing a grim tale of obsession and finality.
Stephon Dubose, 32, now awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and attempted murder in the shooting death of Angela Marina Risi and the wounding of her roommate. According to the terms of his plea, Dubose faces a prison term spanning 35 to 44 years, marking the conclusion of a case that has shocked the local community.
Police were summoned to the 1000 block of Worth Street shortly after 7 a.m. that Monday. On arrival, they discovered Risi, 30, lying fatally wounded from multiple gunshots. Nearby, her roommate also suffered from gunshot injuries, her life irrevocably changed. Both women were rushed to the hospital; Risi’s wounds proved fatal.
Investigators say the violence was rooted in Dubose’s desire for control. Hours before the shooting, he and Risi reportedly argued in his vehicle about the nature of their relationship. Dubose demanded exclusivity—an ultimatum Risi refused. That refusal proved deadly. When Risi left his car and went into her home to seek safety, Dubose forced his way inside, chasing her through the house and firing his handgun again and again.
Risi was shot eight times out of eleven fired rounds, leaving little chance for survival. Dubose then turned his anger toward Risi’s roommate, bursting into her bedroom and firing three times, severely wounding her. Although the roommate survived, her injuries have left her with permanent disabilities.
The brutal attack didn’t end at the Worth Street home. Within the hour, Dubose appeared at his family’s residence on Tranquil Road, where he stabbed himself repeatedly. Family members, alarmed, contacted 911. Responding officers managed to disarm him. Dubose allegedly confessed to police during this encounter, admitting to the shooting and expressing that he could not endure returning to prison or living any longer.
Risi’s father, Matteo, said the events leading to his daughter’s death unfolded in the moments after her final argument with Dubose. He recounted that she hoped to end the conversation and walked away, seeking refuge inside her home, only for Dubose to force his way in moments later with deadly intent.
A gifted dancer and dedicated student, Angela Risi was in her second year of graduate study within Duke University’s dance program. She grew up in California, cultivating a lifelong passion for dance forms from ballet to jazz. The impact of her loss reverberated deeply, with more than 200 friends and admirers gathering to remember her at a celebration of life.
Community members, including a city council member who lived next door, described a pattern of escalating arguments between Dubose and Risi in the days that preceded the shooting. Neighbors recalled heated exchanges, but no one could have anticipated the tragedy that would soon unfold. Local leaders and residents alike have expressed sorrow that a disagreement about the nature of a relationship could end in such violence.
As Dubose awaits formal sentencing, the Durham community is left to grapple with the devastating consequences of a crime born from possessiveness and rage—a stark reminder of how quickly relationships marred by control can spiral into tragedy.