Durham’s mayor is speaking out after two people exchanged gunfire Thursday near Durham’s American Tobacco Campus – the latest shooting in the popular city center in more than a week, according to police.
Shots were fired in the proximity of American Tobacco Campus (ATC) around 10:30 a.m., prompting an evacuation at Cristo Rey Research Triangle High School, according to police.
ATC management said two people exchanged gunfire in the 600 block of Jackie Robinson Drive, near the parking deck. The campus issued an alert, and Cristo Rey staff and students evacuated the high school.
Officers found shell casings at the scene and said one unoccupied vehicle had been struck. No injuries were reported.
Sky 5 flew over the scene, where there was a large police presence and dozens of people gathered on the grassy lawn.
Sources said police were already on scene when an incorrect 911 call of an active shooter at Cristo Rey came in. Students evacuated the school as law enforcement searched inside the building and did not find a shooter.
A spokesperson for Cristo Rey said there was no incident inside the building, and the school day will resume as normal.
Surveillance photos released by ATC show two people who may be involved in the shooting. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200 or report a tip online at www.durhamcrimestoppers.org.
The shooting is the second to occur at ATC within a week, and it was the second time ATC activated its emergency response system to alert the campus community.
“I feel as though my hands are tied when it comes to resources,” Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams said.
Williams says he wants to bring back ShotSpotter, see more collaboration among law enforcement agencies, and possibly more surveillance.
“That’s not like putting video cameras up to creep on someone,” Williams said. “It’s making sure we have the information we need to respond, but right now, we don’t have a lot of information. We just hope someone calls and says something, which isn’t happening.”
Another shooting occurred seven days earlier on April 11 at ATC. Police said a man suffering from a gunshot wound arrived at a nearby bus terminal. He was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A 16-year-old was shot and killed the same day in a different location.
About 3,000 people work at ATC, which is home to many lunch spots, businesses, a daycare and a high school.
Both shootings at ATC are under investigation.
Anyone with information about the shootings is urged to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 919-683-1200.
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