Durham police are trying to track down a suspect after a fatal stabbing along the American Tobacco Trail left a 51-year-old man dead and a neighborhood on edge. Investigators have identified 46-year-old LaRue Barbee as the suspect and say he has been charged with first-degree homicide in the killing. The victim, Chesleigh Eloyd Lyons, was found behind a building near Fayetteville Street and Pilot Street on March 9.
Police Identify Suspect, Search Underway
Investigators publicly released Barbee's name and the homicide charge on Tuesday, according to CBS17. Officers say Barbee, 46, is still wanted as detectives continue working the case and following leads in the ongoing homicide investigation.
What Investigators Say About The Scene
Police say the attack does not appear to have been random and that they do not believe there is a broader threat to the public, according to WRAL. Officers were called out in the middle of the afternoon on March 9 and found Lyons suffering from a stab wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Neighbors Renew Calls For Trail Safety
The killing unfolded along a stretch of the American Tobacco Trail that nearby residents have long complained is poorly lit and littered, and it happened close to where a separate shooting was reported the previous day, ABC11 reported. That one-two punch has turned up the volume on calls from neighbors and some city leaders for more targeted patrols and basic fixes along the trail.
How To Report Tips
Investigators are asking anyone who was on the trail between 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on March 9 to contact Investigator H. Nobles at (919) 560-4440 ext. 29544 or Durham CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200. Tips can also be submitted online, according to CBS17. Police say any video, photos or dash-cam footage from that window could be crucial for the case.
What Comes Next
Barbee is charged with first-degree homicide, and if he is arrested he will be processed through Durham County courts and face prosecution by local authorities. Police emphasize that the investigation is active and are urging anyone with information to speak up so detectives, the community and Lyons' family can move closer to getting answers.
