Teen Charged in Dayton Street Murder; Second Suspect Killed in Durham Police Custody

Durham, NC – A fatal shooting that unfolded on May 9 in Durham’s 1200 block of Dayton Street has taken a dramatic turn, with one juvenile charged and a second suspect, 19-year-old Joshua Farmer, shot and killed inside Durham Police Headquarters while being questioned about the crime.

May 9 Shooting on Dayton Street Claims Juvenile Victim

At approximately 8:31 PM on May 9, Durham Police officers responded to a report of gunfire in the 1200 block of Dayton Street. Upon arrival, they discovered two males—one a juvenile, the other an adult—suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were transported to a nearby hospital, where the juvenile was later pronounced dead. The adult male’s injuries were not considered life-threatening.

Investigators quickly began piecing together evidence. At the time, the incident was believed to be isolated with no threat to the broader community.

Joshua Farmer Fatally Shot During Police Interview

Joshua Farmer, 19, was later identified as a suspect in the Dayton Street shooting. On May 14, while being questioned at Durham Police Headquarters, Farmer became combative. During the struggle with officers, Farmer reportedly grabbed the officer’s gun and shot and killed himself. That separate but directly related incident is currently under internal and external investigation, per standard protocol for police-involved shootings.

Teen Suspect in Custody

Alongside Farmer, a 17-year-old male has also been charged in connection to the May 9 homicide. He is currently being held in secure custody. Due to his age, his identity has not been released publicly.

Authorities say the investigation remains active, and further details will be shared as available.

Call for Information

Anyone with additional information related to the Dayton Street shooting is encouraged to contact Investigator J. Sokal at 919-560-4440 ext. 29238 or submit tips anonymously through Durham CrimeStoppers at durhamcrimestoppers.org or by calling 919-683-1200. CrimeStoppers offers rewards of up to $2,000 for information leading to arrests in felony cases.