NC State student accused of 12 'senseless and random' shootings on or near I-40 in Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Police arrested an NC State University student in connection to a dozen shootings this week on or around Interstate 40 in Raleigh.

Andrew Thomas Graney, 23, was charged overnight Friday with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and firing a weapon into an occupied vehicle or dwelling. He is being held without bond.

His attorney argued that Graney had no previous record and therefore should be allowed bond. The judge refused.

Prosecutors in court said the motive behind the shootings remained unknown. They described the crimes as "senseless and random."

"This is one of those cases that put fear in the heart of the entire community," Judge Debra Sasser said. "I had colleagues texting me telling me, 'Don't go on I-40 today.' And I'm sure many other people in the community received that as well."

Graney was taken into custody with another person on Thursday in the 2400 block of Kentford Court. The other person was released, and their identity has not been released.

Search warrants obtained by ABC11 revealed police searched Graney' Hyundai Sonata and seized a couple of weapons. According to authorities, they found a handgun with a magazine, a gun case with live ammunition, a box of ammunition and spent shell casings, along with a digital camera and silver laptop.

ABC11 also learned there is a surveillance video of the car in the area of the Centennial Ridge Way shooting.

Police said cell phone tower data was retrieved and the owner of Hyundai Sonata was found in the area after five of the incidents.

School spokesperson Lauren Barker said Graney is a senior majoring in anthropology at NC State University and has been enrolled there since the fall of 2019.

NC State students said it's concerning that a fellow student allegedly inflicted so much fear around the city.

"I think to every student that I've talked to so far, it's just been a -- just a shock," Evan Oliver, a student at NC State, said.

"I'm glad that everything worked out and he was caught," another student Emma Rowe said.

Graney graduated from North Carolina Leadership Academy. The school's principal released the following statement:

"We are saddened by the news of Andrew Graney's arrest. The school has had not contact with the student since he graduated in 2019. Our hearts go out to all of those impacted."

Raleigh Police Department is still investigating to find out if more people are involved in the shootings.

There have been as many as 12 separate instances of shots fired on or around Interstate 40 in Raleigh, police confirmed.

What led to the arrest

There were at least 12 incidents this week in Raleigh where shots were fired into cars or homes.

On Thursday, RPD Chief Estella Patterson said the investigation into the shootings is not over. She is asking for help from people in the area who may have information that could help investigators, specifically anyone with security video that may have captured something from one of the shootings.

If you have any information that could aid our investigation, please contact the Raleigh Police Department at 919-996-3335 or visit Crimestoppers at www.raleighcrimestoppers.org and click on "Leave a Tip" in the top right corner of the page.