Residents stunned after body found in trunk of car at Durham apartment complex
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Durham Police are investigating a homicide at a Durham apartment complex late Tuesday night.
There was a heavy police presence at the Falls Pointe Apartments in the 300 block of Glen Falls Lane off S. Alston Avenue and TW Alexander Drive.
Police said that shortly after 7:40 p.m., officers found a man dead in the trunk of a vehicle.
Ernest Stewart, a resident at the apartment complex, said he saw at least 10 police cars at the scene on Tuesday.
"I'm shocked, honestly," Stewart said. "In the trunk of a car, that's dangerous. I have my grandkids asking me questions. Their main concern is, is this going to continue?"
Another resident said it's shocking and scary without knowing how the body ended up in the car.
"How did he die? Do we need to be worried?" a resident asked.
The cause of death is not yet known and Durham Police is still investigating as of Wednesday.
Officers continued to actively investigate late into the night.
ABC11 reached out to the apartment complex for comment on Wednesday, but tenants said they did receive an email on Tuesday letting them know about the police presence and crime.
In August, Chief of Police Patrice Andrews said during a city meeting that although homicide numbers remain unchanged for the second quarter of 2022 compared to last year, the department remains vigilant.
"Currently, we have 16 open cases and those have 19 victims," Andrews said. "As you know, three of our cases from 2021 we did clear this year, which is good. What that says to all of the family members of our victims and our community, is that, while we might not be able to close a case immediately, we are always, always investigating every one of our cases."
Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator A. Ramos at (919) 560-4440, ext. 29245 or CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves.
