Brianna Poole, one of two women charged in a downtown Raleigh run-over that killed 39-year-old Tara Dunn, is out of the Wake County jail after posting a $75,000 secured bond, a significant turn in a case that began with a confrontation near downtown on Nov. 1, 2024.
Court Signs Off On Bond, Tightens Restrictions
Superior Court Judge Keith O. Gregory approved a bond motion this month that let Poole post the $75,000 secured bond and leave custody under strict conditions, including electronic monitoring and house arrest at her mother's home. As reported by The News & Observer, Gregory ordered Poole not to contact co-defendant Kiara Brown or members of Dunn's family and warned she would be sent back to jail without bail if she violates any terms. Brown remained jailed without bail at the time of that report.
Police: Street Fight Preceded Deadly Crash
Raleigh police say the crash happened around 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2024, in the 300 block of Haywood Street, where officers found Dunn with injuries consistent with being struck by a vehicle. WRAL reported that Kiara Dominique Brown was behind the wheel and was arrested at the scene. Authorities later charged both Brown and Poole with murder in connection with Dunn's death.
Warrants Outline Chaotic Confrontation
Search warrants and court filings describe a more tangled lead-up to the crash. According to those documents, Dunn went to Poole's mother's Davie Street home the day before the incident and broke the windows of a car, then came back the next morning carrying a rock. The filings state that Dunn and the other women exchanged punches and scratches, Dunn climbed onto the hood of Poole's vehicle, then fell off and was run over. Poole and Brown told detectives they did not intend to hit Dunn, and Poole's attorney later argued that the car's automatic braking system failed and caused the vehicle to lurch. As detailed by The News & Observer, neighborhood video footage offers conflicting views of who initiated the violence.
Case Moves Ahead With Big Questions Unanswered
Poole's release on bond does not resolve the criminal case. Both women remain charged with murder, and the case is expected to continue in superior court, where prosecutors and a grand jury will evaluate evidence from search warrants and neighborhood video. News outlets noted that anyone with information is being urged to contact Raleigh police or send an anonymous tip to CrimeStoppers, as ABC11 reported.
