Trio Arrested After Vehicle Break-Ins, Gunfire, and Police Pursuit in Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC – A series of vehicle break-ins and gunfire in a Chapel Hill neighborhood on Thursday morning (Dec. 19) led to a police pursuit and the arrests of three Durham men. The incident, which began in the 100 block of Collinson Drive, escalated as shots were fired at witnesses before a multi-agency chase ended in Orange County.
Incident Overview
At approximately 11:49 a.m., Chapel Hill Police received reports of individuals breaking into vehicles on Collinson Drive, a residential street off Piney Mountain Road. As the suspects fled the scene, one of them fired a gun at witnesses. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Chapel Hill Police located the suspects’ vehicle, a maroon Jeep, and pursued it north toward the town limits. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office took over the pursuit, which spotted the vehicle near New Hope Church Road and NC Highway 86 just before noon.
Arrest and Recovery
The suspects abandoned the vehicle in a residential driveway on Landeau Drive and attempted to flee on foot. Deputies quickly apprehended one suspect after a foot chase along Old NC Highway 10 at 12:16 p.m. The remaining two suspects were arrested near Interstate 85 roughly 15 minutes later. During the pursuit, law enforcement recovered two firearms.
Charges and Suspects
The suspects, identified as 19-year-old Fabian Swen, 19-year-old Adrian Milton, and 21-year-old Darius Hailey, all from Durham, face multiple charges, including:
- Attempted felony murder
- Breaking and entering a motor vehicle
- Felony larceny
- Felony possession of stolen goods
- Financial card theft
- Possession of a stolen vehicle
Hailey also faces charges of resisting an officer and felony fleeing to elude arrest. All three are being held without bond at the Orange County Detention Center and are scheduled to appear in court at 2 p.m. on Friday.
Community and Law Enforcement Response
“These were understandably tense moments, and we’re thankful no one was hurt,” said Chapel Hill Police Chief Celisa Lehew. “We appreciate the immediate help from our neighboring law enforcement agencies. Strong partnerships are crucial to protecting our communities.”
Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood added, “It’s always a good day when we remove violent offenders and their weapons from our community. I was impressed by the cooperation of motorists and the information provided by witnesses during this incident.”
The Hillsborough Police Department and North Carolina State Highway Patrol also assisted in establishing a perimeter and ensuring public safety during the chase.
Editor’s Note
Earlier descriptions of this incident as an armed robbery have been clarified to reflect that the suspects were involved in vehicle break-ins and fired at witnesses. The investigation is ongoing.