RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina schoolteacher was killed Saturday morning after a home break-in turned deadly, police said.

Officers responded just after 6:30 a.m. local time to the 800-block of Clay Street and found a woman critically injured.

Zoe Welsh, a teacher at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, was given aid and rushed to a hospital, but died from her injuries.

Police learned that Welsh had called 911 to say a man was inside her home. While she was still on the phone with dispatch, the intruder attacked and beat her.

“The Ravenscroft community is devastated by the loss of our beloved colleague and friend Zoe Welsh,” a spokesperson for the school told our sister station, ABC11 in Raleigh. “Zoe has been a cornerstone of our Upper School Science Department and the Ravenscroft community for years. Her loss is deeply felt by all of us who had the privilege of working with her and learning in her classroom.”

Additional officers who responded to the surrounding area found the suspect, identified as Ryan Camacho, 36. He was taken into custody and questioned.

Ryan Camacho
Ryan Camacho
Raleigh Police Department

Later, Camacho was charged with murder and felony burglary.

Neighbors in the area said they don’t recognize Camacho and can’t believe this type of crime happened in their neighborhood.

“It’s devastating for people who live in this area, it’s crazy, kind of shocking. To hear about this stuff going on so close to me, I literally live right down the street here, I really don’t know what I can process what I can do,” says Joshua Carpenter, a neighbor to Welsh.

Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce released a statement on the incident, saying, “I am deeply heartbroken for this mother, friend, and mentor to many in our community, and for the unimaginable trauma her family must endure. We extend our deepest sympathy to Ms. Welsh’s family during this incredibly difficult time.

Whenever there is a loss of life in our community, it affects us all. As a department, we share in the sadness of this loss. The arrest of the suspect sends a strong message that criminal acts will not be tolerated in the City of Raleigh.

I am profoundly grateful for the dedication and professionalism of the responding officers, whose swift and diligent actions led to the quick apprehension of the suspect in this case.”

The case remains under investigation.

“We are providing grief counseling and support resources for faculty, staff, and students as we all return to campus on Monday,” a Ravenscroft spokesperson said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.”