A 17-year-old accused of gunning down an 18-year-old in the lobby of a Durham motel has been moved into the Durham County Detention Center, according to jail records, marking a new phase in a case that has been winding through pretrial proceedings for months.
Authorities allege the teen, identified in court papers as Dwayne Anthony Lovett Jr., shot and killed Suliman Nazir Burnette inside the lobby of the SureStay Plus by Best Western on Hillsborough Road. Burnette was pronounced dead at the scene. The transfer to the county jail comes after months of pretrial activity that followed an indictment returned last fall.
According to the Durham County Sheriff's Office inmate population search, the jail roster lists "Lovett, Dwayne, Anthony" as confined to the Durham County Detention Center with a confinement date of March 19, 2026, and includes dockets such as 25CR399290. Records show he is being held without bond on charges that include first-degree murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied property. The sheriff's roster, which is updated regularly, is the county's official custody log, and public records link this entry to the Durham homicide case.
The shooting was investigated as an incident on Aug. 26, 2025, at the SureStay hotel in the 3700 block of Hillsborough Road. Family members identified the victim as 18-year-old Suliman Nazir Burnette. ABC11 reported on the killing and the family's statements in the days after the slaying, noting that Burnette's death drew community attention and appeals for witnesses. Police said Burnette was pronounced dead at the scene.
Court records reviewed by CBS17 show that a grand jury returned an indictment in mid-September 2025 charging Lovett with first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and discharging a weapon into an occupied property. CBS17 reported that Lovett was arrested in September 2025 and initially held at the Cumberland Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Fayetteville before his transfer to Durham custody. The outlet also noted that pretrial motions are underway and that a status hearing in the case is scheduled for April 16, 2026. Future court filings and docket entries will steer the schedule as lawyers and the court sort through those pretrial issues.
Legal implications
Lovett faces a slate of serious felony charges, topped by first-degree murder. Under North Carolina law, that offense is defined and punished under the state criminal code. Statutes from the North Carolina General Assembly outline the degrees of murder and potential penalties, which can include life in prison and, in capital cases, the death penalty. The robbery and firearm-related counts are also felonies that could add to any eventual sentence if he is convicted. As in every criminal case, Lovett is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
What’s next
With the indictment in place and Lovett now in Durham County custody, the case will move through the local court calendar toward the next hearing date. A status hearing is set for April 16, 2026, according to court records and reporting. Coverage by CBS17 indicates that prosecutors and defense attorneys have already filed motions ahead of that appearance. The public court docket will reflect any additional charges, continuances, or other scheduling changes. Lawyers for both sides may file more motions or requests that shape how the case moves toward preliminary hearings or a potential trial.
Family reaction
Burnette's family has publicly identified him and repeatedly urged anyone with information to come forward. Local coverage has captured his father's plea for justice following the August killing. Reporting from ABC11 included interviews with relatives and placed the shooting in the wider conversation about efforts to curb gun violence in Durham. Community groups and local leaders have continued to call for more resources and attention focused on youth violence. Officials are expected to update the public as new court actions, filings, and hearing dates emerge in the case.
