Stephon Dubose, 32, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and attempted murder in the Oct. 2, 2023 shooting that killed 30-year-old Duke MFA student Angela Risi and injured her roommate. Under a plea deal announced Jan. 21, Dubose faces consecutive prison terms totaling 35 to 44 years. Police say Dubose forced his way into the home, fired 11 rounds and targeted Risi after she rejected his demand for an "exclusive" relationship. The roommate survived but suffered permanent injuries; family and friends remember Risi as a gifted, compassionate artist.
Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Duke Dance Student After She Refused an 'Exclusive' Relationship — Faces 35–44 Years
Stephon Dubose mugshot; Angela RisiDurham Police Department; GoFundMe
Stephon Dubose, 32, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and attempted murder in the 2023 shooting that killed 30-year-old Angela Risi, a Duke University Master of Fine Arts student in dance, and severely injured her roommate.
What Happened
According to police reports and court records, the shootings occurred in the early morning of Oct. 2, 2023. Officers responding to a 7:18 a.m. 911 call found Risi and her roommate with multiple gunshot wounds. Authorities say Dubose forced his way into the women’s home on Worth Street, pursued Risi and fired 11 rounds, striking her eight times. He also shot the roommate three times; she survived but sustained lasting disabilities.
Plea Agreement and Sentence
On Jan. 21 Dubose entered a plea agreement admitting to second-degree murder and the attempted murder of Risi’s roommate. Under the agreement with prosecutors he faces consecutive prison terms totaling a minimum of 35 years and a maximum of 44 years: 20 to 25 years for the murder conviction followed by 15 to 19 years for attempted murder.
Aftermath and Motive
Police located Dubose about 30 minutes after officers first arrived; he had apparently inflicted stab wounds on himself. When questioned, Dubose told officers he had “shot a female in the face and wasn't going back to prison and couldn't live anymore,” according to reports.
At a subsequent hearing, the district attorney explained the apparent motive: Dubose wanted an exclusive relationship with Risi; she declined. Risi’s father described how she left Dubose’s car, went into her home and was chased and shot in the attack.
Remembering Angela Risi
“She was a gentle and compassionate soul who was a light in the life of anyone who knew her. She was quirky, eccentric, and bursting with intelligence and talent,” reads a GoFundMe organized by Risi’s sister, remembering the dance student and mourning the loss of her future.
Dubose’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Local outlets including WRAL and Local 12 reported on the police response and court filings; details are drawn from those reports and the plea documents reviewed by PEOPLE.
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