3-year-old among 2 people shot at a Walgreens in Durham

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Two people, including a child, were shot at a Walgreens on Monday afternoon, Durham Police said.

The victims were a man and a 3-year-old boy who were sitting in a car. The child was rushed to a hospital with what police said were life-threatening injuries. The man was also taken to a hospital but his injuries were less severe.

It happened just after 4:45 p.m. at the pharmacy in the 700 block of Fayetteville Street near Lakewood Avenue.

The shooting took place in the parking lot behind the Walgreens. DPD described it as a drive-by shooting, with the suspect driving through the parking lot and opening fire.

Evidence markers surrounded a blue Honda sedan that was the target of the shooter.

Two people, including a child, were shot at a Walgreens on Monday afternoon, Durham Police said.

The shooting prompted a strong reaction from Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams.

"As Mayor of one of the coolest cities in America, best places to live, best business establishments, etc, none of that matters until we make the safety of our communities, especially our children, the No. 1 priority in this city," Williams told ABC11 in a statement. "It won't happen until we treat our children with the same outrage we have over street safety, clear-cutting trees, and ceasefires in the Middle East. That starts with community members demanding accountability from themselves and ALL of their government bodies."

Some residents expressed their frustration and weariness over the continued gun violence affecting young people in the Bull City and called on the mayor to do more.

"What are we going to do, Mayor, what are going to do?" asked Durham resident Veronica Jones.

She moved here from Philadelphia seven years ago.

"This city is in dire need. I left Philadelphia for this?" Jones said. "I need you to help us, the kids are in dire need. Come on now. Enough is enough, enough is enough, people are living in fear."

She said guns have to be taken off the streets.

I'm going to speak up ... people aren't going to speak up. I'm tired," Jones said. "Too many lives are being taken for no apparent reason."

Nimasheena Burns, vice chair of the county board of commissioners, brought up the shooting after they voted on the budget.

She said she appreciated the work the teachers have done and do but "There are no red T-shirts for those dead kids, there are no purple T-shirts for those kids."

"When you hear me up here fighting for dead Black kids, I'm not fighting you, I'm fighting for them because they're dead and they can't fight for themselves," Burns said. "There are people in the community who are voiceless ... and I need you to take the same energy and stick up for them."

The incident remains under active investigation.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Investigator B. Garth at (919) 560-4440 extension 29313. You can also call CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200 or visit www.durhamcrimestoppers.org. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards of up to $2,000 for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves.

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