3 shot in Durham at 2 locations, manhunt continues
DURHAM (WTVD) -- Officers are still searching for a suspect after responding to two shootings in Durham on Thursday afternoon. Three people were shot, and police are saying they believe the two shootings are related and the victims were targeted.
Police were first called to a shooting in the 500 block of North Maple Street at 3:08 p.m. When they arrived, they found a man and a woman who had been shot. Both victims were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Officers were then called just minutes at 3:17 p.m. to the 2400 block of Harvard Avenue. Once there, police found a man who had been shot. He was also taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
A short time later, police received a tip that a suspect who may have been connected to the shootings was inside a house on Taylor Street and Gary Street. The residence was found to be empty after a nearly four-hour standoff.
"Information led us to this particular location and we had good information to believe that the suspect either was at the apartment on this particular street or fled the apartment," Durham Police Chief CJ Davis said Thursday evening.
Police left the scene around 8 p.m.
"At this particular time, we have made entry into that particular location and the suspect was not at that location," the chief added.
For Tim Kerr, who lives in the neighborhood, coming home from work was anything but routine on this day.
"I just got home, and they told me I had to park over here," Kerr said. "I walked up to my house and went in my backyard and peeked around and they had officers in the back with guns drawn."
The police chief defended the department's actions Thursday.
"In situations like this, you let folks know what's happening," Davis said. "We anticipated using some type of chemicals, and you let individuals know what's going on that they aren't afraid. And that's what we tried to do today.
"Anytime you have an individual that you think might be a hazard or public safety hazard to the community, a threat to the community, you want to go in and try and deal with it as soon as possible and not waste time. And that's what we did today," Davis added.
The search continues for the shooting suspect or suspects.
