Warrant: Raleigh police threatened day of officer-involved shooting

Copies of a search warrant obtained by WRAL indicate an email was sent to a Raleigh police officer from an unknown Gmail account Monday. In court papers, police labeled the email as a threat against lives of law enforcement officers, but did not say exactly what the threats were.

The online communication was sent sometime between the hours of noon and 3 p.m. on February 29, the day Senior Officer D.C. Twiddy, shot and killed 24-year-old Akiel Denkins, a drug suspect fleeing arrest, behind a home at 117 S. East St., near the intersection of Bragg and East streets.

The search warrant was made public just hours after Denkins’ body was released to his mother.

Bishop Darnel Dixon visited with Denkins’ family and said his mother is comforted by the outpouring of support from the Bragg Street community.

“She sounded strong,” Dixon said. “There are people who are supporting her in the community, of course, with food and water and what have you.”

Dixon and other pastors with churches in or around Bragg Street met Wednesday morning to discuss ways to make sure tensions don’t boil over in the community during the time of mourning.

“It was a very strategic meeting and making sure that all these churches are properly positioned to minister to the needs of this community,” said Pastor William Cooper III.

A memorial to Denkins was growing near the scene where he was shot and killed by Twiddy, who was trying to serve a warrant. It’s the one place friends and family were finding solace.

“It’s been sad, heartbreaking. He was only 24-years-old. He just turned 24,” said friend Todd Moore.

Wednesday, community leaders were calling on everyone to allow the investigative process to play out peacefully.

“What we are asking is, simply, for the truth,” said Dixon.