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Published: 2012-10-18 13:00:00
Updated: 2012-10-18 23:30:54

Man shot while doing yard work in Durham 'lucky to be alive'


Nelson Pinto
Nelson Pinto
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A 68-year-old man who was shot in broad daylight while doing yard work at his Durham home said Thursday he feels "lucky to be alive."

Investigators said Kenneth Harris had been using a weed eater in his front yard in the 2100 block of Faucette Avenue around 3 p.m. Tuesday, when he was shot in the arm and side as bullets rang out from a passing white Fork work van.

"He shot about six times, and the bullet hit me," Harris said. 

The shots, investigators said, were intended for a young boy who got off a school bus and walked in front of Harris' house.

"I thought they had killed that little boy," Harris said, adding he didn't realize he had been shot. "While I was running to call 911, I felt a sting.

"Then I looked down, and I was bleeding myself," he said. 

On Wednesday, police arrested 17-year-old Nelson Pinto, of 1921 Faucette Ave., in connection with the shooting. Harris said Pinto lived just down the street in the ordinarily quiet neighborhood.

"You just don't ever know where trouble is at," he said.

Pinto was charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, assault with a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm within the city limits and placed in the Durham County jail under a $250,000 bond.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Durham Police Department at 919-560-4281, extension 29122, or Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200.

Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases, and callers never have to identify themselves.


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Latest Comments
"Not when it came from Obama's "Fast & Furious"." - bdaughtry2

what? No complaints about "Operation Wide Receiver", the beginning of these stupid "gunwalking" exercises started during Bush's term? Oh, that's right, Bush is a Republican, so that made it okay. Never mind...

"I can't recall any news articles now or in the past where the day was saved by someone with a concealed carry permit" - GravyPig

I've posted article after article after article of the day being saved by armed citizens, some of them by concealed carry. It happens all the time.

Here's just a few:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2009/jul/12/shot121_20090711-230802-ar-37595

http://now.msn.com/71-year-old-man-in-internet-cafe-shoots-robbers

http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanHandgunner/AHJA09/?page=62

"I don't carry concealed to save your life GravyPig. I'll leave that responsibility up to you."

It wasn't a loaded question, it was serious.

"Are we not safe anywhere any more?" charmcclainlovesdogs2

Were we ever

"Just out of curiosity, how likely is that? I can't recall any news articles now or in the past where the day was saved by someone with a concealed carry permit. Not saying it can't happen, just that it doesn't seem to happen or at least get reported. Gravypig"

I don't carry concealed to save your life GravyPig. I'll leave that responsibility up to you.

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