Girlfriend says accused Durham teen would never harm his grandmother

Treyvon Evans,17, was arrested Wednesday on murder and attempted murder charges. He made his initial court appearance Thursday morning and was ordered held without bond.

Officers responding to a cardiac arrest call at 3421 Glasson St. early Wednesday found Carolyn Hemingway, 62, dead inside her apartment. Her 4-year-old grandson was injured and was taken to Duke University Hospital. His condition was unknown Thursday.

Police said Hemingway was stabbed after an argument.

Nikeyea Miller, who lived with Hemingway and Evans for several months before moving out last week, said she doesn't believe he killed his grandmother.

"Everyone knows that’s his heart, that’s the woman who raised him," Miller said. "He used to always say, 'Man, if anything happens to my grandmother, I'm going crazy. I'm always there for my grandmother.'"

Evans and Hemingway would argue at times, but he wouldn't lash out against her, Miller said.

"Him and her are tight-knit," she said. "There was a recent incident where, if they got into an argument, he walks off. He doesn’t stay in the house if there's an argument. He leaves. He refuses to just sit there and yell at his grandmother."

Neighbor Ellen Motley said Wednesday that Evans used to go to her house to get away from an argument with Hemingway.

Miller said she doesn't know what happened to Hemingway but noted that "there is a lot of stuff going on" at the Morreene Road Apartments complex.