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3:40 p.m. • 2-12-12

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Teen shot in Raleigh remembered as athlete, musician


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Damien Dunn
Damien Dunn

The family of Damien Dunn gathered Friday to mourn the teen, who was shot and killed at a neighbor's home on Walnut Street June 13.

Dunn's mother, who had been recovering at WakeMed after having her leg amputated, found out just yesterday that her son was dead.

David Dunn did not want to upset his wife, so he withheld the news of their loss while she recovered. Friday, he took her to see Damien at the funeral home.

"It was real hard, real hard for her, but she's accepting it. Every day she's accepting it," David Dunn said.

Damien, 14, had just completed seventh grade at West Cary Middle School.

He was an athlete and musician, an all-around good kid who was never in trouble, neighbors told WRAL News. According to family friends, Damien played basketball and football, and was a drummer with the Helping Hand Mission band.

Sylvia Wiggins of Helping Hand Mission mourned Damien's lost potential. "The leader that he would have been, he was a role model," she said.

"We're always going to miss him. He's going to be my brother until the end of time," Damien's friend Taiquan Ross added.

Two people were charged in Damien's shooting.

Fruikwan Dion Rashard Stewart, 18, was arrested Thursday and charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Stewart has a criminal record and was on probation at the time of the crime, according to state Department of Correction records. His crimes included breaking-and-entering and drug charges.

At a court appearance Friday, Assistant District Attorney Susan Spurlin asked that Stewart's history be considered when his bond was set for this case. The judge raised Stewart's bond from $50,000 to $100,000.

Eboni Dominique Mitchell, 18, of Garner, was charged with being an accessory after the fact to involuntary manslaughter. Investigators said she helped Stewart escape from police.

David Dunn found the charges to be small comfort. "At least he's off the street," he said of Stewart. "He can't hurt nobody else."

RELATED TOPICS: Raleigh, Cary, Garner

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26 Comments


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This is so sad. The killer should be charged with murder.

I am very confused by Roe's comments. The murderer is also a nice kid??? My heart goes out to this family. I have a 14 year old boy and can not begin to imagine what they are going through. Its seems like everytime you hear the news children are being killed, either by the hands of their own parents or other young people.

I dont think whether or not it is gang related is significant. the fact that this guy probably had horrible upbringing and no father around has attributed to his murdering of another innocent individual. far too often happens in this culture.

Roe Roe Roe...dude you just don't get it do you....Nice guys don't break and enter, they don't do drugs, and they don't kill other people. THEY are good students, play sports, join bands, and are positive role models. Are you getting the picture yet?

Did I miss something? Why did he shoot the boy? What was going on at the neighbors house? Was it accidental? Was the guy trying to shoot someone else and shot the kid instead? I don't understand how it happened. Does anyone know?

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