Gaston County woman moves out after bullets pierce home

Maria Roman is vacating her home in south Gastonia after a shooting on Oct. 21 sent approximately two dozen bullets through the property. The woman is leaving because she no longer feels safe inside the house where she was woken by the gunfire at 3 a.m. on that Wednesday.

The incident began when Roman heard the shots ring out. She covered her ears and screamed, stating that she believed she had been killed. Her children were not inside the home at the time. Roman noted that their absence was the reason they survived the event. She described the trajectory of the projectiles, explaining that some rounds entered through the front door, traveled across the living room, and exited through the back door.

Roman is now arranging her move to a new residence. She expressed that her mental state has changed since the shooting. She said she cannot sit on her front porch to drink coffee without fearing another attack. She described the loss of her sense of security, stating that the shooter took her peace.

Gaston County police detectives are currently investigating the incident. Roman has requested more direct communication from the officers handling the case. She wants to meet with them at her house to discuss their progress and actions. Roman said that clearer updates would provide her with peace of mind. She has not received sufficient contact from the department to date.

WBTV contacted Gaston County police for a response but has not yet heard back. The department is continuing its review of the evidence. Roman is hopeful that the shooting was a case of mistaken identity. She stated that if the shooter realized they hit the wrong house, she would accept an explanation that the event was random. Such an outcome would allow her to regain a sense of normalcy.

Roman holds a different view if the shooting was a targeted attempt on her family. In that scenario, she said she would want the responsible parties to pay for their actions. She is waiting for the police to determine the motive behind the Oct. 21 shooting.