Man charged with murder of 41-year-old woman fatally shot near Duke Park

On Friday, Jan. 27, around 2 a.m., officers with the Durham Police Department responded to the park in the 100 block of West Knox Street, where they found Shakida Laquan Rivers, 41.

Rivers was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, where she later died.

Rivers was shot close to the park, just a few feet away from homes in the area.

Butler was charged with murder and possession of a firearm by convicted felon. Butler has been in custody since Feb. 6 on a federal detainer for chatrged stemming from a weapons violation.

Anyone with further information about this case is asked to call Investigator M. Evans at 919-560-4440, ext. 29336, or Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200.

Neighbors said they heard multiple gunshots and doorbell cameras on the street saw different cars speeding around.

The park is used by people who live nearby and those around the city come to the dog park and playground as well.

Locals who spoke with WRAL News were surprised that this happened near the park.

“It’s very surprising," Bryam Ortiz said. "I’ve grown up in Durham my whole life so it’s crazy to know that someone was murdered here last night.”

Fred Cooley said he lives about four blocks away.

"I've been over here about 30 years, and that’s the first incident of a killing in Duke Park that I can remember," Cooley said. “The kids and everybody come over here to play. This is their hangout. Now they’re going to be scared to come and play in the park. It’s not fair to them.”

Avery Bond visits Duke Park every other week.

"It's always surprising to hear about violence so close to home," Bond said. "I [won't] be coming around dawn or dusk."

WRAL News has requested 911 calls from the shooting.