A teenager charged with shooting at a state trooper weeks earlier in Chapel Hill is now charged with murdering a 15-year-old boy in Durham.

According to the Durham Police Department, officers on Wednesday charged a 14-year-old with the murder of 15-year-old Aryion “AJ” Clendenning. Clendenning was shot on Jan. 11 at the Magnolia Pointe Apartments on Danube Lane. EMS took Clendenning to a local hospital, where he later died.

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Witnesses at the time believed Clendenning was playing in the snow outside when he was shot.

According to Durham police, the same 14-year-old was involved in a chase weeks later with Highway Patrol through Durham and Chapel Hill.

Authorities said as the teen and two other suspects drove into Chapel Hill, they began firing at the trooper, hitting multiple parked cars in an apartment complex on Timber Hollow Court near Mendel Drive.

Authorities have not released the identity of the teen but said he is in secure custody and charged with first-degree murder in Clendenning's death.

The teen is also charged with the several felonies and misdemeanors from the chase and break-ins around Durham, including:

  • Attempted first-degree murder.
    • Assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill
      • Possession of a stolen firearm.
        • Possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
          • Possession of a firearm by a minor.
            • Assault by pointing a gun.
              • Discharge a firearm into a patrol vehicle.
                • Discharging a gun in city limits.
                  • Four counts of damage to personal property.
                    • Eight felony counts of breaking into a motor vehicle.
                      • Six felony counts of breaking into motor vehicle with theft.
                        • Eight counts of financial transaction card theft.
                          • Five counts of injury to personal property.
                            • Four counts of conspiracy.
                              • Seven counts of financial card fraud.
                                • Two counts of misdemeanor conspiracy.
                                  • Felony breaking into a motor vehicle with theft less than $1,500.
                                    • Two counts of larceny of a firearm.
                                      • Felony conspiracy.

                                        Durham mayor on teen charged with murder of 15-year-old boy: 'There is no excuse'

                                        Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams told WRAL News that he is tired of hearing stories like this one.

                                        "We have to do this as a community," Williams said. "There is no other way, we have to do it as a community.

                                        "We have to ensure that we’re smart with policy, we have to make sure we’re parenting, we have to make sure that our justice system is working we’re going to continue to see the same thing over and over and over again."

                                        Williams pointed to programs like Bull City Future Fund that are working to steer Durham youth in the right direction. He said the real change starts at home.

                                        "We have to make sure the parents have their resources, but they have to parent," Williams said. "We have to make sure you are keeping your eyes on your kids.

                                        "No 14-year-old should be out and about this time of night. And I don’t want to hear about this, what about that? You should not be shooting at state trooper in the middle of the night. You should not be out and about killing someone else the same age as you. There is no excuse for that."