4 Charged With Killing Woman During Home Invasion

Raleigh, N.C. — Four suspects have been charged with the murder of a 25-year-old Raleigh woman during a home invasion last August.

Lenair Bene Omar Moses, 25; Jaquan Tryon Dumas, 19; Timothy Tyrone Horton, 26; and 20-year-old Brandon Michael Jones were charged with murder in the death of Charmeka Cheymeir Harris, 25, on Aug. 18, 2007.

The suspects were expected to be in court Friday afternoon.

Moses, was taken into custody Thursday by the Raleigh Police Department’s Fugitive Task Force. The arrest was made at the intersection of Poole Road and Lord Anson Drive.

Dumas was already being held in the Wake County Jail on unrelated charges. He has since been re-arrested for Harris' murder.

Federal authorities had custody of Horton and Jones and turned them over to a Wake County magistrate Thursday.

Investigators said masked gunmen stormed into an apartment at 4105 Spring Forest Road on Aug. 18. The gunmen shot Harris in the stomach, and she died of her wounds at WakeMed.

The gunmen also took money and jewelry from the apartment, which was occupied by 10 people, including five children, at the time.

Search warrants showed that investigators took cocaine and a shotgun shell from the apartment. Harris’ family said they will rest easier knowing that suspects are behind bars for the crime.

Harris’ sister, Nikeya Miller, said it has been hard since her sister was killed. Miller said she'd just left the apartment to go to the store when she got the call that her sister had been shot.

“My mind went blank. I don’t remember nothing. I don’t remember nothing that happened that night,” Miller said.

Police said they believe the crime was not committed at random.

Dumas, Horton and Jones were arrested after a joint investigation by Raleigh police and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina assisted.

Raleigh police elements included the Major Crimes Task Force, the Career Criminal Unit and the Gang Suppression Unit. Police said the investigation into Harris' killing was continuing.

“Arrests mark not the end of a case, but the beginning of another phase of the investigation, and I think that will prove to be true here,” said Raleigh police Spokesman Jim Sughrue.

Miller said the arrests give her a sense of relief since she still lives in the apartment where her sister was shot.

“This is justice. This is justice and even more they get what they deserve,” Miller said.

30 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 30 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

jautrey_dont_copy

These guys werent strong like your mother. I am not saying this is the only reason they ended up like this, but one of MANY. I just think the breakdown of the black family, poverty, fatherlessness, lack of education and no role models is a real problem. They probrably never thought they would amount to anything, thus it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

Your mom is an example to all of us, she made it despite of the adversity.

nathanius
April 25, 2008 3:12 p.m.

This is a sad story...My prayers are with all involved.

Weetie
April 25, 2008 1:42 p.m.

"I must assume drugs were being sold out of the apartment...the gunmen knew this and busted up in there to get the money."

I agree...it sucks when something like this happens in your own backyard...or anywhere for that matter. Good job, popo's for catching these guys. I hope all this will cause the girl's family/friends to stop selling drugs (if that was the case.)

They need to make sure these guys are never allowed back on the streets again.

iluvwilmy
April 25, 2008 12:57 p.m.

"Countries and states or provinces with the death penalty often have higher rates of violent crime. Criminals have the "If the government can kill people, why can't I" attitude. Death penalties always produce the opposite effect." -robertofthecats

Really? Any statistical basis for this position that capital punishment CAUSES a higher violent crime rate?

Harrison Bergeron
April 25, 2008 11:29 a.m.

Re: role models. My Mom grew up in a house with an alcoholic father and 5 alcoholic brothers. Her Mother died when she was very young. She remained in the house until she was 16 at which time she became pregnant after one of her brothers' drunk friends raped her. She was placed in a group home for unwed teen mothers. She gave birth to a baby without being given any pain meds. She kept the baby a week, fed him, clothed him then one day a social worker came and took him out of her arms and she never saw him again. Finally, an older sister moved back into town and took her in. She went back to school, got a job and met my Father. She was the best Mom ever. She volunteered in the community, school and was a leader in church. Bottom line, ANY individual can overcome their circumstances and live a positive life. I don't buy the "didn't have a role model" excuse for why these individuals choose this lifestyle.

fbguru
April 25, 2008 11:26 a.m.