Durham police seek suspect in 9-year-old's shooting death

Police have charged a Durham man in the shooting of a 9-year-old boy who died when someone fired bullets into the car he was riding in on Jan. 4.

Jaeden Sharpe died six days after the shooting on Lucas Drive, where he and his mother, Lakeisha Holloway, 31, were wounded. Holloway is recovering from the shooting.

Investigators are looking for Everett Lamont Graves, 23, of Elmira Avenue, who is charged with murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

The shooting does not appear to have been random, police said, but they provided no motive or additional details about the case.

Anyone with information on Graves' whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200 or the Durham Police Department at 919-560-4440, extension 29336.

Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases, and callers never have to identify themselves.

A third-grader at W.G. Pearson Magnet Elementary School in Durham, Jaeden was described by family members as a good kid who made good grades and who was loved by everyone.

In the days prior to his death, he had started with his brother a T-shirt line – something the family says it plans to continue as a way to help inspire others. Proceeds from the sale of the shirts, which can be ordered by sending an email to  jjsharpeimpact@gmail.com, will benefit a scholarship fund established in Jaeden's memory.

"This thing that looks like a monstrosity – I believe God is going to turn it around for good, and I believe that is what Jaeden would want us to do," family friend Valerie Brown said.