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Durham Police Out in Force to Solve Murders

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DURHAM — Durham police are out in force, working to find out what happened on one of the more violent days in the Bull City's history.

On Monday, police responded to three unrelated murders within 10 hours. Now, as many as 20 investigators are working to solve the cases.

"Our investigators have worked tirelessly to try to follow every lead and work incredible hours at times," says Lt. Ed Sarvis of the Durham Police Department.

Omar Lionel Reed, 21, and Terry Dwayne Green, 17, were arrested Monday for the murder of William Teasley, 31. Police say the murder took place early Monday morning on Enterprise Street.

The murders of Marshall Rivers, 72, and Hezekiah Baxter III, 26, remain unsolved.

Tuesday afternoon, Durham police set up a command post and checkpoints along Highway 55 and Riddle Road -- the area where Rivers' body was discovered. Motorists were questioned for leads in his murder.

Rivers was killed near his south Durham neighborhood. People living there say his murder broke the quiet that normally rules the neighborhood of retirees, but they are glad to see police working to catch the suspects.

"It makes me feel kind of secure to know they are on the job as soon as they are, asking questions, trying to find out who the culprits were," says neighbor Bill Ware.

It is a different story for Rivers' son, who found his father's house had been broken into. Marshall Rivers Jr. moved from Durham 10 years ago and says he will never come back.

"The crime in Durham is outrageous. When I come home to visit you can hear gunshots going off all over the place. It's like living in the Wild, Wild West," he says.

Police are looking for a young black man who was seen leaving the area Monday. He is described as being 15 to 18 years old, having a dark complexion, approximately 5'5", wearing a black T-shirt, gray pants and a dark colored rag on his head.

Police say they have a number of leads in the Rivers' murder case.

Rivers' family believes the people who broke into the house are connected to the murder.

Earlier this month Rivers filed a police report about an attempted break-in.

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