An outbreak of shootings, contentious signage around the city and racially charged text messages have made some Durham residents worried about their safety. Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams spoke directly and firmly around some of the obstacles the city faces on Wednesday afternoon at City Hall.
"We're not running from our issues," Williams said. "We're not running from the fact that yes, we have, historically, had communities that have had to deal with crime and homicides, we're not ignoring that.
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"We accept that, but one thing you have to know is we're working toward that."
Williams said the intent of city and county leaders is not to ignore the challenges, but highlight other stories that he feels paint a more complete picture of Durham.
"Yes, I'm aware that we've had some recent shootings," he continued. "Yes, homicides happen and yes, there was a recent story that stated Durham crime creeping into Wake County.
"Yes, I do believe that was a very cherry-picked angle. It was also stated that I felt it was unfair. Let me be clear, life is unfair. So, I really don't care what's fair and what's not fair. What I care most about is – are we doing what we need to do to make sure we're listening and leading for the people in this community?"
Five shootings in 72 hours
Five shootings from Sunday through Tuesday have left three dead and others injured. On Saturday, a 36-year-old man was found shot to death on Brye Street. That night, three men were hurt in a shooting near the intersection of Ridgeway Avenue and Lakeland Street.
On Sunday, a man was shot in the 2300 block of Lednum Street. That man was expected to survive. Early Tuesday, another shooting was reported near the same place. Police found one person shot dead in the 2300 block of Lednum and said that another man was taken to the hospital. On Wednesday, police said the person who died was a 17-year-old boy.
Later Tuesday morning, another man was found shot and killed in the 1600 block of Holloway Street. That man was identified as 31-year-old Christopher Lee Hart.
Banners linked to white nationalism
On Sunday, signs touting the importance of "strong families, strong nations" with a link to a Patriot Front website were seen at the American Tobacco Campus. Patriot Front is considered a "white nationalist hate group that formed in the aftermath of the deadly 'Unite the Right' rally in Charlottesville, Virginia," according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Text messages target Black students
Since Election Day, people in Durham and throughout the country reported receiving threatening text messages about being forced into slavery. The message indicates the recipient has been “selected to pick cotton” at a plantation.
City, county leaders preach unity
As the Bull City continues to see population and commercial growth, Williams and other leaders want to minimize unease and cultivate an environment that's welcoming for citizens from all walks of life. Durham has been included in the U.S. News & World Report's list of 'Best Places to Live' in recent years.
Board of County Commissioners Chair Nida Allam and Durham Public Schools Board of Education Chair Millicent Rogers joined Williams, who took over as mayor in December 2023.
This isn't the first sudden surge in shootings this year in Durham. On April 11, five people were shot in one day and a 16-year-old was killed, prompting Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews and Williams to hold a media availability to condemn the acts.
Williams was critical of a WRAL Investigates story that published Monday that highlighted arrest data from Wake County agencies showing an increase in charges filed against people from Durham for Wake County crimes. Williams said he felt the story misrepresented Durham.
The mayor also pointed out Raleigh has crime too, so WRAL Investigates checked those numbers. People from Raleigh committed more crimes (491) in Cary and Morrisville from January 1, 2024, through September 17, 2024, compared to Durham residents (387).
Considering Raleigh’s population (186,000 larger) and closer to proximity to Cary and Morrisville, the raw numbers aren’t surprising.
However, it’s the trend of more crime coming from Durham compared to the capital city that WRAL News highlighted.
From 2019 to 2024, the percentage of crimes committed by Raleigh residents in Cary and Morrisville rose 40% (491 in 2024 versus 351 in 2019). In that same time frame, charges against Durham residents in those towns rose 110% (387 in 2024 versus 184 in 2019).
"We must tell our story, it's ours to tell," Williams said. "It won't be misrepresented. I don't lose my cool, I don't get upset, but when you mess from my community in this way, then you will hear from me in this way."
Durham police investigated 49 homicides in 2023. Several weeks ago, Durham county leaders announced the termination of Bull City United, an anti-violence program. In 2022, Durham shootings were the subject of a WRAL Documentary, "Durham Under Fire."
"When you talk about the Bull City, put some respect on it because there are so many things in this city that are worth being excited about," Williams said on Wednesday. "There are 30,000 cities and towns in this entire nation. Durham is No. 6 best-run city in this nation."
The ranking Williams mentioned was according to a WalletHub list.