Man charged in fatal shooting at Durham tire store

O'Brian McNeil White, 24, of Durham, faces two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon.

A gunman opened fire last Friday afternoon inside J.T. Tire, at 2202 E. Geer St. Naomi Wright, 65, who was at the front desk, and Abdelgadir Mergany Abdelganir, 32, a cab driver who was at the shop to get a tire fixed, were killed.

Store employee Terry Shaw, 51, and customer Javier Ramirez remain hospitalized with gunshot wounds.

Durham County Sheriff Mike Andrews said Durham police arrested White on several weapons-related charges Friday morning.

Forensic evidence collected at the shooting scene linked him to the crimes, Andrews said, declining to elaborate.

White has been on probation for a December conviction on drug and weapons charges, according to state Department of Public Safety records. He was arrested two other times last year for carrying a concealed weapon, records show.

He was discharged last year from the Army, according to his mother, who declined to give her name. She said he was stationed at Fort Bragg but was never deployed.

Regarding the charges against White, she said, "I raised him. He is grown up, and and he is his own man."

Tire shop owner John Turner said he and his family were happy that an arrest had been made.

Andrews thanked local residents, who provided numerous tips in the case last weekend, for their assistance, but he added that the investigation is ongoing and their continued cooperation is necessary.

"Durham County citizens are our eyes and ears on the street and play a vital role in preventing crime," he said. "I appreciate those in the community who have called and provided investigators with valuable information leading to this arrest."

The sheriff declined to say whether more arrests are expected.