WRAL.com: Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville

Log in to WRAL.com with one click using your favorite social network:

Register with WRAL.com using your favorite social network:

8:30 p.m. • 5-24-13

62°F

Weather Forecast for Raleigh

Sat: Partly Cloudy.
- Hi: 72° F
Sun: Partly Cloudy.
- Hi: 75° F
Mon: Partly Cloudy.
- Hi: 80° F

Other Locations

7 Day Forecast

Posted: March 3, 2007

Autopsy: N.C. Central Student Killed by Gunshot Wound

Site Search

Durham, N.C. — The autopsy report is reportedly out on slain North Carolina Central student Denita Smith.

The Durham Herald Sun reports the autopsy shows Smith was shot in the back of the head, and the shot was fired from a "distant range."

Police believe Smith was shot just after she left her Durham apartment the morning of Jan. 4. Her body was found two hours later.

Shannon Crawley, a former Guilford County 911 operator, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with Smith’s death. Smith's fiancé, a Greensboro police officer, told investigators Crawley was stalking him.

Get News Alerts to your Email & Cell Phone

15 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 15 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments

Although I am surprised at how long and how little information was covered on this case as well,I still don't think it's appropriate to call people names. That's childish. I pray for the families involved. It's just a sad story.

unchick
March 5, 2007 1:09 p.m.

I dont think it would matter at all how Ms. Smith was killed but the fact remains that two families are broken hearted over a very simple incident. Come on guys be careful how you make comments on this site or anywhere else for that matter; families are still griveing, we all could very well be in the same situation simply becuase of the unknown. I hope all goes well with the case and justice is served.

jchelpus
March 5, 2007 11:55 a.m.

I don't understand why their has not been more media coverage of this story until now. And the slut who accused the men at Duke of rape was in the media everyday. Don't think this is fair.

life43
March 5, 2007 11:43 a.m.

Good to hear that the autopsy confirmed something that we had know all along. Now how long did it take to reach that conclusion? Two months? No wonder the courts are backed up. They have to wait for "conclusive" reports like this before they can prosecute!

norwinfischer
March 5, 2007 7:47 a.m.

hmmmm whats this a small whole with a bullit in it, well I dont want to be to hasty got to check the toxicology reports make sure it wasnt a poisning of a sort or the heart after all heart desises is a killer to.....maybe its cancer.....or could of been stabed the possibilitys are endless! Wow people can be so slow sometimes