Triangle Crime Report June 30 – July 6: Holiday Week Marked by Violence and Arrests

RESEARCH TRIANGLE REGION, NC – A rise in violence, thefts, and troubling incidents marked the week of June 30 to July 6 across North Carolina’s Triangle region and beyond. From a 5-year-old wounded in road rage to missing infants and major police interventions, here’s a detailed breakdown of the most significant stories, including key statewide updates.

Wake County

20-Year-Old Arrested After 5-Year-Old Shot in Cary Road Rage Incident
On June 30, a 5-year-old was seriously injured after being shot during a road rage incident in Cary. Police arrested 20-year-old Charles Edward Stevenson Jr. on July 1 in connection with the shooting. The child is recovering.

Two Men Arrested in June Shooting
Two suspects were taken into custody on July 1 in connection with a June 24 shooting near Wendell. Jaleak Horton, 21, and Christopher Little, 45, were taken into custody on Tuesday. When deputies arrived, they found that a man had been shot. He was hospitalized with serious injuries. A home in the area was also hit by gunfire. The two men are both charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury.

Wake County Deputies Shoot Armed Man                                                                               

Three deputies responded to a call on July 1 about a man threatening to harm himself in the 200 block of Benar Drive near Raleigh. When deputies arrived, the man fired a gun at the deputies. Deputies discharged their firearms in response, striking the man, identified as 32-year-old Brian Monroe. Monroe was then taken to a hospital, where he was listed in critical condition, authorities said. A deputy was also injured but was treated at a hospital and later released.

Naked Man Attempts Carjacking, Faces Multiple Charges
Raleigh police arrested a man who was reportedly naked and attempted to carjack a vehicle on July 2. On Thursday, police identified the naked suspect as 32-year-old Dominique Cortez Jennings. He faces charges of breaking and entering and assault.

Mother Charged in 2024 Raleigh Apartment Fire that Killed Two Children
Police charged the mother of two children killed in a 2024 apartment fire in Raleigh on July 3. A one-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy found in the apartment were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, where they later died. The children’s mother, 34-year-old Rodreika Porter, was also inside the apartment and not injured. An investigation determined she left her children unattended when the fire broke out.

Two Shootings Occur Just 30 Minutes Apart in Downtown Raleigh                                               On July 5, Raleigh Police were called to West Johnson Street around 1 a.m. for a shooting. They found one man with injuries from a gunshot wound, and he was transported to a nearby hospital. Just 30 minutes later, more gunshots were heard down the street near 510 Glenwood Avenue outside of a parking deck. On Monday, July 7, police arrested 21-year-old Kenneth Edward Kirby Jr. as the suspect in the Glenwood Avenue shooting. He was arrested on Monday and is being held without bond.

Brother Charged After Raleigh Man Shot During Domestic Dispute
On July 5, Raleigh police were called to a shooting just before 5 a.m. on Conifer Drive in the area of Parkwood Village Apartments. Upon arrival, officers found one man in critical condition with injuries from the shooting. Saturday afternoon, Orlin S. Lopez, 22, of Conifer Drive, was charged with the shooting. The brother of the suspect was injured in the shooting, an arrest warrant for Lopez said.

Durham County

Man Killed in Shooting on Cornwallis Road

Durham police are investigating a deadly shooting that occurred around 2:25 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, in the 1400 block of E. Cornwallis Road. Officers arrived to find a man suffering from a gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim has been identified as 24-year-old Amani King of Durham. Authorities spent several hours processing the scene, but no arrests have been made, and no additional injuries were reported.

Durham Police Arrest 30, Seize Guns in Multi-Day Operation
From June 25–27, 2025, the Durham Police Department’s Organized Crime Division and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force conducted a targeted three-day operation to combat violent crime. The sweep, reported on July 4, resulted in 30 arrests or citations, the seizure of 22 firearms (including two with illegal switches), and the recovery of fentanyl, pills, and other narcotics. Officers also confiscated over $4,200 in cash and served 14 outstanding warrants. Authorities say the operation reflects a continued commitment to reducing gun and drug-related violence through strategic enforcement.

Orange County

Second Man Charged in $10K Home Renovation Theft
A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the theft of more than $10,000 worth of items from a home under renovation in Orange County. On July 2, 32-year-old Zacharia Nathaniel Warnke of Rougemont was charged with felony breaking and entering, larceny, and conspiracy. The theft occurred on May 29 at a property on U.S. Highway 70A near Hillsborough. Warnke is the second person charged; 34-year-old William Dean Cox, also of Rougemont, was arrested in June.

Johnston County

Man Charged with Murder of 2-Year-Old

A Johnston County man is facing murder charges following the death of 2-year-old Jensen Scott Jackson. Deputies responded to a call from WakeMed on July 4 about a child with bruises and head trauma, which was linked to an earlier EMS visit to a home on Cleveland Road. Lance Pearce, the boyfriend of the child’s mother, was initially charged with intentional child abuse after a home search and interview. After the child died from his injuries on July 6, Pearce’s charges were upgraded to murder, and he is now being held without bond.

Search Warrant Yields Drugs, Cash, Firearms

On July 1, a joint narcotics investigation led to a search warrant at a home on Old Barn Way in northern Johnston County. Authorities arrested 47-year-old Maxton Omar Gaddy after seizing morphine, amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, THC edibles, six firearms, drug trafficking equipment, and an off-road bike with a removed serial number. Gaddy faces seven drug-related charges, including trafficking and firearm possession by a felon. He is being held at the Johnston County Detention Center on a $290,000 secured bond. (Photo: Source)

Harnett County

Attorney Sentenced for Felony Drug Offense

Harnett County defense attorney Jeffrey Stall, 45, was sentenced to two years of house arrest and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to a felony drug offense. Stall was implicated during a federal wiretap investigation and caught with 33.65 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded handgun following a traffic stop. Investigators later learned Stall had received drugs from former clients he had once represented.

Motorcyclist Arrested After High-Speed Chase
A high-speed chase involving a group of motorcyclists began on I-95 in Harnett County on July 5 after they refused to stop for the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. The pursuit ended near Wade in Cumberland County when one rider on a Kawasaki Ninja was arrested. Two other motorcyclists fled the scene and remain at large.

Driver Flees After Chase Ends in Dunn Crash
Also on July 5, a separate high-speed chase ended in a crash in Dunn. The driver escaped on foot and has not been captured.

Lee County

Man Accused of Beating, Choking Elderly Woman

A Lee County man was arrested after allegedly assaulting an 80-year-old woman in the McPherson Road area of Sanford. Curtis Blake Rader, 28, was charged with multiple offenses after the victim reported being violently attacked and nearly choked unconscious; she required hospitalization at UNC for her injuries. Rader is being held without bond.

Chatham County

Durham Man Charged in Multi-County Crime Spree, Police Chase, and Shooting at Troopers

Dekenneth Mileek Covington, 26, of Durham, faces a litany of felony charges stemming from a multi-county crime spree that included vehicle break-ins, financial card fraud, and a high-speed police chase. On May 30, Covington allegedly stole personal items and cards from a car in Chapel Hill and was later identified via Walmart surveillance footage. Investigators linked him to additional thefts across Durham, Orange, Alamance, Chatham, Wake, and Lee counties. On June 22, Covington reportedly rammed Garner police cars and fired at troopers through the sunroof of his vehicle before being arrested. He is being held on over $1.4 million in combined bonds.

Person County

Five Arrested in Vehicle Break-In Rash

Five individuals — including two 19-year-olds, Malik Javon Jeffreys and Treshaun Jones, and three juveniles — were arrested on July 4 in connection to a months-long string of vehicle break-ins across Person County and the City of Roxboro. The suspects are accused of targeting unlocked vehicles at night, stealing electronics, firearms, cash, and other valuables. A citizen’s tip and assistance from a sheriff’s K9 led deputies to detain the group and recover stolen property. Jeffreys and Jones are facing multiple felony charges, and additional charges from both the Sheriff’s Office and the Roxboro Police Department are expected as the investigation continues.

AROUND THE STATE

Charlotte (July 6): Officer Shot in Uptown
A CMPD officer was shot in the leg during a domestic disturbance call on North Church Street. The officer is in stable condition; a suspect is in custody. 

Wilmington (July 6): Homicide in Downtown
34-year-old Raquan Wilson died after being shot on North Front Street around 2:30 a.m.; police classify it as a homicide.

Statesville (July 3): Solicitation Arrest
Daniel Brown Chambers Jr., 25, was arrested after Durham and Iredell officers found he was soliciting a minor online and attempting to meet; charged with sexual exploitation.

Conclusion

This week’s surge in violence, theft, and serious incidents across the Triangle—from urban centers to suburban and rural counties—has highlighted a concerning trend as summer begins. Law enforcement’s response was swift, but sustained community engagement and prevention efforts remain vital to ensure public safety.