TRIANGLE CRIME REPORT July 14 – 20, 2025: Drug Seizures, Shootings & Multi-County Raids

TRIANGLE RESEARCH REGION, NC – This week’s crime roundup across North Carolina’s Triangle region spans everything from massive drug seizures on I-95 to fatal shootings and complex investigations into violent and sexual crimes. Law enforcement agencies across Wake, Durham, Nash, Johnston, Orange, Granville, and beyond collaborated to arrest suspects, recover weapons, and bring justice to victims. Below is the full report for July 14 – 20, 2025.

WAKE COUNTY

Attempted Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested (July 15)

Raleigh police have arrested William Weylen Clemmons, 45, in connection with a June 2 attempted bank robbery at Southstate Bank on Glenwood Avenue. Clemmons allegedly handed a threatening note to a teller and tried to steal cash but fled the scene empty-handed before officers arrived. After an investigation, he was located and charged with Attempted Common Law Robbery.

Fight Between Workers at Raleigh Restaurant Involved Gun (July 20)
A reported shooting at Tupelo Honey restaurant in Raleigh’s Village District turned out to be a physical altercation between two employees, not an active shooter situation. According to Raleigh police, one employee pulled a gun during the fight, but no shots were fired. The suspect fled the scene, while the other employee sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene. The restaurant was closed for the rest of the day, and police are actively searching for the armed suspect.

DURHAM COUNTY

Nearly 5 Kilos of Fentanyl Seized (July 19)

Patrick Allen, 29, of Raleigh, is being held on a $3 million bond after investigators found 4.8 kilograms of fentanyl, a firearm, cash, and drug packaging materials during a traffic stop in Durham. The seizure was part of a multi-agency investigation involving the Durham and Wake County Sheriff’s Offices and the DEA. Allen, who has eight prior drug-related convictions, now faces multiple felony charges including trafficking opium or heroin and felony conspiracy. Officials say the fentanyl recovered was enough to kill more people than Durham County’s entire population.

NASH COUNTY

193 Grams of Khat, 14+ Pounds of Marijuana Found (July 17)
Two New York men, Luai Fihv Al Awdi and Alhaggag Abdo Mohamed Musaid, were arrested after a traffic stop on I-95 South in Nash County led to the discovery of over 14 pounds of marijuana and 193 grams of khat. Deputies initiated a search after spotting narcotics in plain sight and receiving conflicting statements. K9 Waldo alerted to drugs in the vehicle, which also contained counterfeit snack-style marijuana packaging. Both suspects face multiple felony drug charges and are being held on $175,000 secured bond.

1.9 Kilos of Cocaine Seized on I-95 (July 15)

A traffic stop on I-95 South led Nash County deputies to seize 1.9 kilograms of cocaine, a digital scale, and a large amount of cash (pictured right) from a white mini-van occupied by Harry Rodriguez Felix of Pennsylvania and Marcos Josuel Rivera Garcia of Maryland. The suspects gave conflicting statements, and a strong odor of marijuana prompted a consensual vehicle search. Both men were charged with multiple felony drug offenses and are being held on a $2.5 million secured bond.

GRANVILLE COUNTY

Guns, Narcotics Seized in Creedmoor Drug Raid (July 17)

 

A joint narcotics investigation led to the arrest of Joshua Lamont Satterwhite, 44, after law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence on Oak Street in Creedmoor. Creedmoor Police, along with the Granville and Person County Sheriff’s Offices, recovered multiple controlled substances, firearms, and a vehicle with a tampered serial number (pictured right). Satterwhite faces multiple felony drug and firearm charges and is being held in the Granville County Detention Center on a $105,000 secured bond.

Multiple Charged in Creedmoor Park Shooting
A 17-year-old has been charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill, Inflicting Serious Injury, and Possession of a Firearm by a Minor in connection with the July 13 shooting at Harris Park. According to Creedmoor Police, the teen was apprehended quickly after surveillance footage and community tips helped locate the suspect’s vehicle. The victim underwent surgery and is reportedly in stable condition. As the investigation expanded, additional suspects were charged. Wiggins Josselin, 25, of Creedmoor, faces Felony Accessory After the Fact and Misdemeanor Simple Affray, while Dimere White, 19, of Stem, was charged with Misdemeanor Simple Affray. The original 17-year-old suspect also received additional charges including Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Going Armed to the Terror of the Public, Possession of a Handgun by a Minor, Discharging a Firearm in City Limits, and Simple Affray. Five more 17-year-olds were also charged with Misdemeanor Simple Affray. 

ORANGE COUNTY

Woman Robbed After Chapel Hill ATM Visit (July 17)
A woman was robbed at gunpoint late Thursday night after withdrawing money from an ATM on Willow Drive, according to Chapel Hill Police. Three men reportedly followed her home and stole her cash and credit cards in the area of Old Chapel Hill Road around 10:30 p.m. No injuries were reported, and no arrests have been made. The incident remains under investigation.

Carjacking Outside Chapel Hill Hotel (July 19)
Chapel Hill Police are investigating an early morning carjacking that occurred around 2:25 a.m. Saturday outside The Siena Hotel on East Franklin Street. Three armed suspects stole a vehicle from two victims at gunpoint. The vehicle was later found in Durham. No injuries were reported, and the suspects remain at large.

JOHNSTON COUNTY

Illegal Smithfield Massage Parlor Busted (July 10)

Xueling Yang, 41, was arrested following an investigation into an unlicensed massage parlor allegedly operating as a front for prostitution on Wilkins Street. Smithfield Police say the business lacked a required state license and had been active for about three weeks. During the search, officers seized cash, cell phones, and a fake North Carolina cosmetic license. Yang faces misdemeanor and felony charges and is being held on a $40,000 bond.

Son Arrested in Father’s Death in Clayton (July 17)

Donte Khamani Deloatch, 20, was arrested and charged with voluntary manslaughter in the death of his father, 60-year-old William Deloatch, following a July 11 altercation in a parking lot on Barber Mill Road. Police say the two got into a physical fight that led to the elder Deloatch’s death. Donte was taken into custody after consultation with the Medical Examiner and District Attorney’s Office and is being held on a $1 million secured bond.

CHATHAM COUNTY

Bear Creek Man Charged With Statutory Rape (July 19)

Larry Varner, 54, of Bear Creek has been charged with multiple felonies, including statutory rape, kidnapping, and child abuse, following a joint investigation into the repeated sexual assault of a female juvenile in Chatham and Montgomery counties. Authorities say the abuse occurred over the course of a year at two residences. Varner is being held on a $281,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in Chatham County District Court on August 4.

WAYNE COUNTY

Goldsboro Police Seek Shooting Suspect (July 16)
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect(s) involved in a June 29 shooting that left two people injured in the Cook Out parking lot on North Berkeley Boulevard. Officers also found an overturned vehicle behind a nearby Waffle House, with two additional injured victims who fled the crash. All victims were treated at a local hospital. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information or video footage is urged to contact the Goldsboro Police Department.

STATEWIDE & REGIONAL INCIDENTS

Deadly Officer-Involved Shooting in Cumberland (July 20)
Fayetteville — A man was shot and killed by a Cumberland County deputy Sunday night after allegedly pointing a firearm at law enforcement on Catherine Drive. Deputies were called to assist firefighters responding to a nearby brush fire when they encountered the armed suspect. First aid was rendered, but the man died at the scene. The State Bureau of Investigation is now leading the investigation, and deputies involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave.

Man Shot by Police in Elizabeth City (July 20)
Elizabeth City — A 32-year-old Perquimans County man was shot by an Elizabeth City police officer Sunday afternoon after allegedly brandishing a firearm near Hughes Boulevard and Halstead Boulevard. The man was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, and his condition remains unknown. The 20-year veteran officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. Witnesses nearby reported hearing gunfire and seeing the man with his hands raised, though accounts of the incident varied.

Greenville Man Charged in Child Abduction Attempt (July 15)

Williamsburg, VA – Travis Andrew Bright, 46, of Greenville, NC, has been arrested and charged with felony abduction and misdemeanor assault after allegedly attempting to lure and restrain a 7-year-old child at Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg. According to the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, Bright, a guest at the lodge, tried to lead the child away from the pool area and prevented them from leaving when they resisted. He was later located and taken into custody.

Kinston Boy Critically Injured in Shooting, Four Charged (July 15–16)

Kinston — A 12-year-old boy suffered life-altering injuries after being shot while visiting Sam’s Mini Mart on North Queen Street with his mother. Responding swiftly, Kinston Police identified and apprehended three suspects—James Roberson Jr. (23), Xavier Wilson (21), and Dontreo Moore (24)—with help from the Craven County Sheriff’s Office, who conducted a traffic stop just hours after the shooting. Three handguns were found in the suspect vehicle, and a later search of Jennifer Wilson’s home yielded additional evidence, including a 7.62 caliber rifle. All three men face multiple felony charges, including three counts of attempted murder, while Jennifer Wilson (38) was charged as an accessory after the fact. The young victim remains hospitalized, and police say the shooting has had a devastating impact on his family and the community.

Fatal Domestic-Related Officer-Involved Shooting in Kinston (July 20)
Kinston — Two Kinston police officers have been placed on administrative leave following a fatal officer-involved shooting during a domestic disturbance call on Manchester Road around 3 a.m. Sunday. Police say a man threatened a woman with a firearm and then produced the weapon when officers arrived, prompting them to open fire. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, and the State Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent review. The victim’s identity has not been released at this time.

Conclusion / Wrap-Up

From high-speed drug busts and violent assaults to targeted shootings and disturbing abduction attempts, this week’s Triangle Crime Report paints a sobering picture of public safety concerns across our communities. The coordination between law enforcement agencies—from local police to federal partners—has proven crucial in apprehending suspects and protecting the public. As investigations continue and trials begin, Spectacular Magazine will remain committed to reporting these stories with clarity, urgency, and accountability.