Durham Officer Wounded After Responding to Break-In Call

Durham, N.C. — A Durham police officer was shot in the arm and back while responding to a break-in call Sunday night, according to police spokeswoman Kammie Michael.

Officer D.B. Vereen was responding to a break-in in progress at 1410 Cherrycrest Drive, Apartment A, shortly after 9 p.m. when he confronted two men at the back of the residence. One of the suspects shot Vereen in the arm and back, authorities said.

Authorities said Vereen was wearing a bulletproof vest. He was treated and released from Duke University Hospital Monday morning.

Police are looking for two suspects. One suspect is described as a black male with a medium complexion in his late teens or early 20s. He had short hair and was wearing a long white T-shirt and blue jeans. A second suspect is described as a black male with cornrows or dreadlocks and wearing a black T-shirt.

Police said the two men may have fled the scene in a silver Nissan Maxima or a silver Chrysler Sebring.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Durham police at 919-560-4582, ext. 289 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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thank god for the good men and woman of all police forces.that help us all.of course for the trash that don't care for them it most likley because you are breaking the law at some time ,but when your in trouble you want them there then i bet.may this officer recover quick and know we thank you so much for what you do.

not pc
September 25, 2007 3:53 p.m.

I wish a quick recovery to Officer Vereen. He was an officer that responded to my son's 911 call a year and a half ago when we had a man broke into our house while we were home and he was very compassionate to my son and me. Thank goodness he was wearing a bullet proof vest. I hope the idiot is caught that shot him in the back. Wish you well Officer Vereen.

angelahughes
September 25, 2007 1:55 p.m.

Why do people use this forum on every crime report to "bash" the cities where the event occurs? That is so petty. The crux of the article is about an officer getting shot, something we should all have compassion about as those men and women are out there approaching events that most people would run from, doing their absolute best to "protect and serve"..........

I just add this because its truly about the people involved, and yes, I agree, things are bad in many different cities, but it is not limited to one city and all states have these type of statistics.

Lets have some care and concern for the people who are out there approaching this "bad element" day in and day out. They also have families at home that worry constantly....and "statistically" most officers are good, hard working and honest, but the emphasis always seems to be on the few, bad ones that make the front pages.....all in an effort to sell more news space and ad space!!

illegals--GO HOME
September 25, 2007 12:53 p.m.

" "the pursuit of happiness," there is no happiness to seek if it impeded by another's "pursuit" of ignorance. I do not understand fully the failure to grasp this concept... in it's most basic form, happiness is a "right" given in the spirit of this clause"-Studweiser

Studweiser,

No offense taken. I hope you are not offended when I say you are absolutely, positively, 100% wrong. I cannot grasp your concept, because it is not logical. The word happiness does not appear in the Constitution.

The government cannot stifle the speech of one citizen no matter how "unhappy" that speech may make another citizen. Perhaps your misconception of having a right to happiness is one of the causes of the current prolific entitlement mentality.

Speech cannot impede freedom; it just doesn't happen. There are things that are not protected as speech, including inciting riot, but that is not the same as expressing an unpopular opinion.

Harrison Bergeron
September 25, 2007 11:02 a.m.

Ok, let's simplify... "the pursuit of happiness," there is no happines to seek if it impeded by another's "pursuit" of ignorance. I do not understnad fully the failure to grasp this concept... in it's most basic form, happiness is a "right" given in the spirit of this clause. This is in no way an insult to you, sorry if it does, and I hope it not come across as such, but it is the truth, plain and simple.