Triangle Crime Report Oct. 13-19: Shootings, Drug Busts, and Repeat Offenders Across NC

RESEARCH TRIANGLE REGION, NC – From record-breaking drug seizures to violent shootings and repeat offenders, law enforcement agencies across the Triangle and beyond were busy during the week of Oct. 13–19, 2025. Investigators in Burlington, Raleigh, Goldsboro, and Alamance County responded to shootings and major arrests, while state and federal officials pursued criminal cases stretching from Charlotte to Onslow County.

WAYNE COUNTY

Two Arrested After East Spruce Street Shootout

A man and woman are facing charges after a shootout on Oct. 16 in the 400 block of East Spruce Street that left the man injured. Police say Carl Cecil-Junior Johnson, 50, fired at a car occupied by Angelene Lavette Cobb, 36, and another man. Cobb then shot Johnson, who was seriously hurt. Both were arrested; Cobb faces assault with a deadly weapon and was released on bond, while Johnson faces multiple felony charges and is being held without bond.

18-Year-Old Charged After Investigation Into Three Robberies Targeting Online Buyers

Amarrii Faison, 18, of Goldsboro, was arrested Oct. 12 following an investigation into three robberies targeting people attempting to purchase electronics through online listings. The crimes occurred between Aug. 27 and Sept. 18, when victims were robbed of cash after arranging to buy PlayStation 5 consoles. Faison faces two felony larceny charges and one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon. He was denied bond and appeared in court Oct. 14.

WARREN COUNTY

Former Warrenton Officer, Police Chief, and Town Named in Federal Lawsuit

A federal lawsuit accuses former Warrenton officer Mark Oakley, ex–Police Chief Goble Lane, and the Town of Warrenton of civil rights violations and excessive force. Filed Oct. 13, the suit claims Oakley tased and unlawfully arrested multiple residents while officials ignored complaints. Oakley was fired in 2024 and later indicted by a federal grand jury.

WAKE COUNTY

State Senator Charged With DWI After Arrest in Wake County

North Carolina State Senator Norman Sanderson, 74, was arrested in Raleigh on Oct. 18 and charged with driving while impaired, failure to obey a traffic officer, and transporting an open container of alcohol. Court records show his blood alcohol content was 0.16. The Arapahoe lawmaker, a Republican who represents Carteret, Chowan, Halifax, Hyde, Martin, Pamlico, Warren, and Washington counties, issued a public apology. Sanderson posted a $2,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Wake County Court on Nov. 7.

3 Injured After Shots Fired Into Raleigh Sports Bar (Oct. 18)

A woman and two men suffered life-threatening injuries when shots were fired into Touchdown Sports Bar on New Bern Avenue around 4:30 a.m. Saturday, according to the Raleigh Police Department. Investigators say three to four bullets struck the business, and all three victims were hospitalized. No arrests have been made as police continue to investigate.

Teen Charged With Murder in Deadly Raleigh Shooting (Oct. 13)

A 16-year-old is facing adult charges for the murder of 53-year-old Michael Dickens, who was shot late Monday night in the 1800 block of New Bern Avenue near Raleigh Boulevard. Dickens later died at the hospital. A second victim was also treated for gunshot wounds and is expected to recover. The suspect’s name has not been released as the investigation continues.

ORANGE COUNTY

74-Year-Old Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Downtown Shooting

Geary Wayne Council, 74, of Chapel Hill, was arrested Oct. 16 after a shooting on West Franklin Street that left one person injured. Officers responded around 6:14 p.m. to the area of Franklin and Graham Streets, where a victim was found with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and taken to UNC Hospitals. Council faces attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and multiple firearm-related charges. He is being held without bond at the Orange County Detention Center.

JOHNSTON COUNTY

10 Pounds of Marijuana Seized During Selma Traffic Stop (Oct. 13)

A routine traffic stop for speeding on U.S. Highway 70 near Selma led deputies to discover 10 pounds of marijuana valued at approximately $57,000, according to the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. The drugs were found inside a duffle bag in the vehicle’s trunk. Two people were taken into custody, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Sheriff’s Office Investigating $15,000 Bank Scam Targeting Local Woman

A 61-year-old Johnston County woman lost $15,000 in cash after being tricked by a scammer posing as a Wells Fargo employee, deputies said. The caller claimed the money was needed for fingerprint testing and directed her to hand it over at a Dollar General parking lot on Cleveland Road. The suspect, described as a Black male driving a damaged Toyota Prius, took the envelope and fled. The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office is investigating and warns residents to never withdraw or hand over cash at the request of a caller.

DURHAM COUNTY

Woman Injured in Oxford Manor Shooting

Police are investigating a Thursday morning (Oct. 16) shooting at Oxford Manor Apartments on Danube Lane, a complex with a history of violent incidents. A woman was shot and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. This marks the latest in a series of shootings at Oxford Manor this year, including incidents on Oct. 10, March, and February involving multiple victims, including a 2-year-old child.

Man Killed in Bus Stop Shooting After Argument

Abdul-Jalil Burnette, 28, was fatally shot Oct. 15 at a bus stop near the Village Shopping Center on Raynor Street in east Durham. Police say the shooting followed an argument over a cellphone. Burnette was taken to the hospital, where he died. His brother, Suliman Nazir Burnette, 18, was killed in a separate August shooting. No suspect is in custody.

ALAMANCE COUNTY

Two Men Arrested After Largest Meth Seizure in County History

Alamance County authorities have made the largest methamphetamine seizure in county history, confiscating approximately 413 pounds of meth valued at over $5.6 million. The Alamance Narcotics Enforcement Team (ANET), working with the FBI, DEA, and local law enforcement, arrested Artemio Rivera Avilez, 33, and Margarito Guzman Galindo, 58, both of Burlington. The pair face Level 3 trafficking charges and are each held on $750,000 bond. Officials said the multi-agency operation demonstrates the power of collaboration in combating large-scale drug trafficking.

22-Year-Old Woman Arrested After Driving Wrong Way, Facing Multiple Charges

State troopers arrested Ernique Leeasia Washington, 22, Saturday night after she was seen driving aggressively and in the wrong direction on U.S. Highway 64. Washington faces several charges, including driving while impaired, driving with a revoked license, and open container violation. Records show she was previously charged with DWI in March in Alamance County. She is being held without bond and due in court on Nov. 7.

AROUND THE STATE

Charlotte | Four Homicides in Less Than 24 Hours Spark Citywide Alarm

Between late Saturday and early Sunday (Oct. 18-19), the Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Department responded to four separate homicide scenes across Charlotte:

• Around 2:00 a.m. Saturday, a man was found dead from blunt-force trauma in the 1300 block of Wembley Drive.

• At about 4:45 p.m. Saturday, a gunshot victim was located near the Food Lion on the 5600 block of North Graham Street.

• Minutes later, a third man died following a shooting near the 100 block of Park Fairfax Drive; the victim was in his 30s.

• Then early Sunday at 1:25 a.m., officers found a man, later identified as Jason Neal, fatally shot in the parking lot of Coyote Joe’s on the 4600 block of Wilkinson Boulevard. 

Only one suspect—Andre Walker, 44—was arrested in connection with Neal’s killing. No suspects have been publicly named in the other three cases.

Career Boosters Continue Crime Spree Across NC — Arrested Again in Onslow County

Two repeat retail theft offenders, Laqueisha Monique Everett and Tiffany Barrett, have been arrested for the eighth time this year—their latest incident in Onslow County—as their multi-county shoplifting spree continues unchecked. In the most recent case, the pair were charged with misdemeanor larceny, possession of stolen property, and misdemeanor conspiracy after stealing $350 in merchandise from Carter’s in Jacksonville, including onesies, pants, and a Halloween shirt.

Everett and Barrett have accumulated dozens of arrests across Pitt, Wake, Craven, Onslow, Beaufort, and Wilson counties, yet both remain on probation despite a record of 15 arrests last year alone.

Conclusion

This week’s incidents highlight the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces across North Carolina—from violent crime in urban centers to organized retail theft and large-scale drug trafficking in smaller communities. Authorities urge residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious activity, and help make our cities and counties safer for everyone.