Durham Police Arrest Man in Series of Hispanic-Targeted Armed Robberies

DURHAM, NC – On the evening of July 25, the Durham Police arrested and charged Denshawn Stareek Thompson, 31, of Durham, in connection with six armed robberies that occurred in the last week where Hispanic victims were targeted.

In many of the cases, the victim(s) claimed they might have been followed home from the bank or ATM by the suspect before they were robbed.

Thompson has been charged with four counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, four counts of second-degree kidnapping, four counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, assault on a female, assault with a deadly weapon, and larceny from a person. More charges are pending.

Below is a list of the robberies Thompson has been charged in connection with:

•         7/19/24 – 2100 block of Bogarde Street – An adult female victim had just returned home from the bank when the suspect approached the victim, pointed a gun at her and robbed the victim of her belongings.

•         7/20/24 –  1100 block of Park Avenue – An adult male victim came home to find two suspects standing in his driveway. The suspects demanded the victim’s money and forcibly took the victim’s belongings before fleeing the scene. 

•         7/20/24 –  2800 block of Ashe Street – Two adult male victims were walking towards their home when they were approached by two suspects. Both suspects pointed handguns at the victims and demanded their money and belongings. 

•         7/21/24 – 2700 block of Thelma Street – An adult male and an adult female had just arrived home when they were approached by two suspects. One of the suspects pulled a gun on the adult male and demanded his money and belongings. Both victims were struck in the head with a gun by one of the suspects during this robbery. The suspects forcibly took their possessions before fleeing the scene.

•         7/22/24 – 500 block of Hardee Street – An adult male and a juvenile male had just arrived home when they were approached by two male suspects. One of the suspects struck the adult male in the back and forcibly took his wallet before fleeing the scene. 

•         7/23/24 – 4600 block of Denfield St. – Two adult male victims were approached by two suspects outside their home. The suspects brandished handguns and demanded money from both victims. One of the suspects went into the house and demanded money from a third adult male victim. The suspects then made all three victims go inside the home while they tried to get into locked rooms. When they could not get in the locked rooms, the suspects fled the scene.

In addition, Thompson also faces a charge in Granville County. In that case, Thompson followed a victim from a bank on Roxboro Road all the way to Creedmoor.

Thompson is currently being held in the Durham County Jail with no bond.

Investigators are still working to identify a second suspect involved in five of these armed  robberies.

Anyone with any information in any of these cases is asked to call Sgt. J. Clark at 919-560-4440 extension 29407. You can also call CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200 or online at 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.