A fatal shooting occurred in East Durham last night, claiming the life of a local father of two. As reported by CBS 17, Durham police arrived at the 300 block of South Benjamine Street near Ashe Street at approximately 9:27 p.m. and found a male victim with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The deceased has been identified by neighbors, as a man with two daughters, and was described as a good person. According to a statement obtained by WRAL News, neighbors reported hearing five gunshots and said the body was found at the end of a driveway, just steps from his home. The police encompassed the area for over nine hours, searching a vehicle and perusing personal items in the driveway of one residence, but have yet to announce suspect information.
While the Durham Police Department continues its investigation into the incident, they have so far deemed it an isolated incident. No additional details concerning the circumstances of the shooting or potential motives have been disclosed to the public.
ABC11's coverage noted that the investigation by DPD is ongoing, with the report of the shooting coming in just before 9:30 p.m. The man, upon being found by the officers, was already deceased from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. The narrative of mourning and investigation is a sadly familiar one, tracing the contours of American gun violence, even in supposedly safe neighborhoods where families raise their children.
