2 teenagers shot in separate incidents in Durham, day after 3 teens found shot and 2 died

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Durham Police are investigating after a 14-year-old was shot Thursday afternoon.

It happened shortly before 5 p.m. in the 900 block of East Main Street near Angier Avenue.

Durham Police said officers responded to a report of a gunshot wound and found a "male juvenile" boy with gunshot injuries.

The victim was taken to a hospital. His injuries were considered life-threatening, police told ABC11.

It appeared the shooting started at an apartment complex and spilled into the roadway some distance away.

Charlitta Burruss was there when shots were fired around East Main and South Elm streets.

"I was sitting in my car, reading some mail like a typical citizen would do," Burruss said. "Shots rang out, cars are scurrying, people are running, the police came from everywhere.

"I'm so sick and tired of our young folks getting targeted, getting shot or whatever the case may be," Burruss added. "We need help: mayor, city council members, get out of your seat, walk into the community, and how about the one I lay down at in Edgemont. I'm ducking and trying to look and saw residents running and people taking out their phones. If bullets were coming literally I would not have had time."

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It's the fifth juvenile shot in Durham in the past couple of days. Two teens died and a third was injured in a shooting near a school Tuesday overnight into Wednesday.

Earlier Thursday, a 15-year-old was shot. Police said it happened in the 4440 block of NC Highway 54.

That happened around 1 p.m. Police said someone in a passing vehicle fired a shot, injuring the juvenile. The victim was taken to the hospital with what were described as non-life-threatening injuries.

"It's becoming the norm, folks," Burruss said. "Oh yeah, somebody just got shot -- that should not be a dining room conversation."

The shootings come just a day after police were busy investigating another shooting involving young people that left two students dead and a third injured.

Durham Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton told ABC11 on Wednesday that it's an education issue, a parks and recreation issue, and a kitchen-table issue.

"This is a sickening, dark day and trends we've been noticing," Middleton said, and he noted that the caliber of weapons used is getting higher, the ferocity of the incidents is increasing and the ages of the people involved are getting younger.

Fred Evans, who coaches Bull City Bull Dogs, is doing his part to give young people positive outlets.

"Trying to give kids a chance to do some things outside of the streets; recruiting kids to come play football as early as possible," Evans said. "We do football, basketball it's mainly life talks we have with them that's where we're trying to strive at and get them to understand it's real. "I gotta get a grasp to get these kids to understand it's for real."

Evans said the challenge is to find enough activities to keep children engaged.

"There's not a lot here in Durham for them, and if something does come up for them it's like it's quickly diminished," Evans said. "We've got to find a solution to give these kids something to do before they get involved in this: like I said, idle mind is a devil's playground. We have to get these kids involved in some things to nurture them and continue to let them know there are people who want to see better for them.

"It starts at home, but you have to have outside activities for these kids because parents aren't always going to be with the kids and that's the fight we have right now," Evans added.

Kymond Howze; a 15-year-old Northern High School student, agreed.

"Keeping kids occupied. I think there should be more programs and more talks with the kids," Kymond said. "Kids have families, families are it's not OK and I would hate for someone in my family to end up in that predicament. "It's a thing that's a regular basis right now people aren't talking about it just happens every day it's a part of life now."

Anyone with information on any of these shootings is asked to please call CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200.

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