Durham police seek leads in 2009 homicide

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information leading to arrest and conviction in the case.

Police say Lira was involved in a fight with a group of people at El Pantano Club, at 1000 E. Geer St., on Dec. 12, 2009. The fight spilled into the parking lot and a man shot at Lira as he was getting into his vehicle to leave.

Lira drove away from the club, but when friends realized he had been shot, they switched drivers and began driving toward a hospital, police said. On the way, the vehicle ran out of gas on the Durham Freeway, where Lira's friends flagged down a police officer.

Lira died later at the hospital.

Witnesses told police that the shooter was a Hispanic man in his early 20s, between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a thin build. He had short, cropped black hair with longer hair on top and a goatee. At the time, he was wearing a white, long-sleeved sweater and white pants.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 919-560-4440, extension 29337, or Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200.