2 Charged With Shooting Durham Officer; 1 in Custody

Durham, N.C. — Authorities in Burlington on Friday arrested one man wanted for shooting a Durham police officer, taking him into custody after a standoff at a house. They were searching for a second suspect on Saturday morning.

Durham police officer D.B. Vereen was shot in the back and arm while responding to a break-in in progress at 1410-A Cherrycrest Drive on Sunday night.

Authorities received information Friday afternoon that David Wendale Williams, 22, of Normandy Street in Durham, was in a house at 1017 S. Church St. in Burlington.

The Burlington Police Department's Special Response Team surrounded the house and negotiated with Williams for 90 minutes. Officers fired six rounds of tear gas into the house, and Williams surrendered.

Kevin Burnett “K.J.” Johnson, 24, of Concord Street in Durham, was still at large. He is known to frequent the areas of Concord Street, Martha Street, the Baycreek Apartments at 1309 Hudson Avenue, Belmont Drive and the Cornwallis Road housing community, Durham police said.

Both men are charged with second-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm.

Williams is being held at the Durham County jail under a $1 million bond.

Vereen was shot after confronting the suspects at the back of the house. He was taken to Duke University Hospital and was released Monday.

South Church Street in Burlington was shut down during the standoff.

Agencies involved in identifying the two and tracking down Williams included the U.S. Marshals Service’s Fugitive Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Burlington Police Department, Durham Crime Stoppers and various Durham Police Department units, officials said.

Durham Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,500 reward for information that leads to arrests in the case. Crime Stoppers accepts anonymous tips.

Anyone with information on Johnson's whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200, Sgt. Jack Cates at 919-560-4440, ext. 262 or Investigator G.S. Bryant at 919-560-4440, ext. 246.

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Storyteller you said the "... if its white on black crime its racism..." Will as a police report it is not. When a crime becomes a hate crime, or racism in the eyes of the law, it’s when a hate group like the KKK or the Black Panthers commits a crime as a group. Let’s say the KKK starts fights at a M.L.K. march in downtown Raleigh for an exp.

Now I am a Police Officer and I love my job. And I would like to thank all of you for showing your support for Officer D.B. Vereen. A lot of your comments touch my heart and make me love the job that I do. Because ever day we have to face people that hate us, people who love to kill us, (Like the MS 13 street gang) Thank you for are support and the kind words. And remember, I will always keep my Oath to you all.

Thank you NC LawRanger

NC Tar Heel Law
September 30, 2007 1:58 a.m.

If found guilty, "an eye for an eye". What else will deter senseless crime?

Mr. Keeping It Real
September 29, 2007 8:37 p.m.

This second punk needs to turn himself in and take what is due him. Why would you shoot a police officer? These guys have no common sense and no respect for others. They are the creme of the crop. They need to be taken down and locked in a pen like a rabid dog. Race has nothing to do with it - it is just plain evil people who have absolutely no responsibility. If "KJ" doesn't turn himself in pretty soon he is going to die - every LEO in the state (and beyond) is looking for him. Give it up dude - your life is over!

Tax Man
September 29, 2007 5:38 p.m.

seankelly= But in a phone interview with The Associated Press, Jackson said he believed there was enough circumstantial evidence indicating something happened to the woman.

"There's more evidence that violence occurred to her than she's the lead of a hoax," Jackson said.

casp3r
September 29, 2007 5:31 p.m.

Idiots! I'm sorry. Just work for what you want. Stop breaking in to everyones home trying to take other ppl's mess! That goes for ALL races. I mean, what in the world is wrong with folks these days, really? I don't have everything I want in life, but I am darn sure not going to go break in and steal it! That is a pretty wimpy way to get what you want, yes? I mean, C'mon! I started off waitressing...trying to learn different skills so I could move up in the world. Now, finally at age 30, I am working 2 jobs to pay for my college that I am also attending while working two jobs. Just get off your tails and WORK to make money! Stop taking other peoples hard earned treasures because you are too sorry to earn them yourselves! Maybe it is something in your brain that triggers ignorant acts? Maybe, I am just lucky not to have the "killing instinct" that would make it OK to shoot at another human being. **OR maybe, just maybe, ppl would rather get what they want for free?

minpinmommy
September 29, 2007 4:56 p.m.