In one week, the Durham Police Departmentarrested more than 25 people as part of a proactive operation targeting crime and preventing gun violence.
The arrests were made in late June and early July in the areas of McDougald Terrace, Cornwallis Road and the Fayetteville Street corridor. The areas have seen a lot of violence in recent years, including when six people were shot on Fayetteville Street in a span of 10 days in June. So far in 2024,128 people have been shot in Durham.
Durham averages one person shot per day in the last two months
Eleven firearms and a stolen scooter were seized in the recent crime operation, and dozens of people were arrested in connection with shootings and drug activity. Two people under 18 were charged with carrying concealed guns, possession of firearms by minors, and resisting, delaying or obstructing an officer.
Some of the arrests were also for outstanding warrants on serious charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and communicating threats. Many of the people arrested also had prior charges, with one man facing other charges for selling drugs in the same spotthree weeks earlier.
The Durham Police Department told WRAL News the week-long initiative helped police make all thearrests at one time to get a higher percentage of guns off the street.
Lieutenant Brad Frey said the initiative was a street-level proactive operation with about 50 Durham police employees involved.
"I immediately saw an immediate impact, and I do believe they made a significant impact," Frey said. "For the week this operation ran, and for the days after the operation was completed, there were zero shootings, getting a higher percentage of guns off the street."
Arrests warrants show many of the people charged with drug-related offenses were in or near public parks or spaces, including Unity Village, Edgemont Park and WD Hill Recreation Center.
"This isn't where a bunch of guns were taken out of a house," Frey said. "Every single gun that was seized was off a different individual walking on the street, which is one of the main components of a shooting or a violent incident."
Frey told WRAL News it is common for violence to occur in public spaces, and police officers work closely with Durham Parks and Recreation as a result.
"I believe district one just did a cleanup of Long Meadow Park, and I know the southern districts are also are in frequent communication with the members and faculty at WDHill," Frey said.
The 24 arrests listed below were announced on Wednesday.
- Jahlil Bond, 28: Charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver (PWISD) schedule II and schedule III controlled substances within 1000 feet of a park, simple possession of schedule VI, and possession of drug paraphernalia
- Nicholas Clayton, 32: Charged with PWISD schedule II, schedule III, and schedule VI controlled substances within 1000 feet of a park, and possession of drug paraphernalia
- Vaughn Brito, 43: Arrested on an outstanding true bill of indictment for assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury (AWDWISI)
- Daryl Scales, 45: Arrested on outstanding misdemeanor warrants
- Christiana Bright, 27: Charged with PWISD marijuana, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for controlled substances (CS), possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while license revoked (DWLR)
- Triston Richardson, 24: Charged with carrying a concealed gun and resisting a public officer (RDO)
- Antoine Blake, 26: Charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle
- Kelvis Epps, 34: Charged with PWISD schedule II, schedule II (MDMA), and schedule VI controlled substances, carrying a concealed gun, and possession of drug paraphernalia
- Kinshasa Hibbitt, 19: Charged with carrying a concealed gun and resisting, delaying, or obstructing an officer (RDO)
- Shyree McCrea, 23: Charged with PWISD crack cocaine within 1000 feet of a park and possession of drug paraphernalia
- Keyshawn Lewis, 19: Charged with carrying a concealed gun
- Micah Branch, 23: Charged with simple possession of schedule II
- Gabrielle Shaw, 34: Charged with trafficking schedule II (2 counts), maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for CS, and PWISD cocaine within 1000 feet of a park
- Thomas Griffin, 29: Charged with PWISD schedule II and schedule VI controlled substances
- William McClure, 27: Charged with carrying a concealed gun
- Joshua Holloway, 23: Charged with carrying a concealed gun
- Cordero Bright. 37: Charged with PWISD schedule II controlled substances
- Jacarri Lassiter, 23: Arrested on an outstanding warrant for felony fraud charges
- Derrick Earls, 25: Arrested on an outstanding warrant for communicating threats, identity theft, and probation violation, with an additional new charge for identity theft
- Tarrio Hemingway, 37: Arrested on an outstanding warrant for conspiracy to sell/deliver Schedule II controlled substances
- Patrick Holeman, 23: Arrested on an outstanding warrant for possession of a firearm by a felon, and resisting, delaying, or obstructing an officer (RDO)
- Evelyn Hardnett, 21: Arrested on an outstanding warrant for PWISD schedule II and felony fraud
Anyone with any information about any violent criminal activity happening in the city is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200 or go online at www.durhamcrimestoppers.org.
