Durham police canvass area where restaurant owner killed

Officers responding to a reported shooting at Kabab & Curry House, 2016 Guess Road, found the body of Mohammed Arfan Sundal, 51, around 10 p.m. Thursday in a parking lot behind the restaurant.

A woman who called 911 told the dispatcher that Sundal told her he was going to wait for a delivery. A short time later, she found him lying on the ground near his car.

Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Durham police group for curbing gun violence, hit the streets at 5 p.m. Wednesday to talk to neighbors and possible witnesses and search for clues in the homicide.

Crystal Dreisbath volunteered to help with the canvass. 

"I felt really heartbroken when I heard he died, and my whole family was really touched by it because we had come here many times to eat," she said. "He was very kind to us ... so I wanted to give back somehow and try to help out to maybe find who killed him."

Crime in the neighborhood is on the rise, neighbors said.

"The crime is really so bad. I carry a gun, too, to protect me," said Steve Capraun, who lives in a nearby apartment. "I'm scared. My daughter is scared to death. She won't even come out."

The Dog House, at 2009 Guess Road, was recently robbed at gunpoint, employees said.

"It was real scary seeing a gun to my manager's head," said Torino Chappell. "I didn't know if he was going to shoot any of us or what. It was real scary when I saw the gun to my manager's head, so I was frightened for her a lot."

Chappell and her coworkers echoed what neighbors said shortly after Sundal's death – area businesses need better lighting.

"You can't see on the other side of the dumpster. You can't see anything across the street after 5 because it is so dark," said Dawn Martin.

A vigil for Sundal, who leaves behind a wife and four children, is planned for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Kabab & Curry House, where bouquets of flowers lean against the door in his honor.

Investigators have not commented on a possible motive for the shooting and said they have no suspect or vehicle descriptions. 

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