Durham police ID 7-year-old killed in weekend drive-by shooting

Durham Police Chief C.J. Davis identified the child as Kamari Munerlyn, who was a first-grader at Eastway Elementary School.

Investigators said Munerlyn was in a Honda Pilot SUV with nine other people at about 5 p.m. when multiple shots were fired from another car as the vehicles traveled near Hillandale Road and Peppertree Street.

The driver of the Pilot SUV drove to the nearby Tokyo Express Cuisine restaurant in the 3200 block of Guess Road because a flat tire prevented them from getting to a nearby hospital, authorities said.

Authorities said the five adults, including Munerlyn's mother, and four other children inside the SUV were leaving a local pool. One adult male passenger fled from the scene on foot before officers arrived. Two other adult male passengers left the scene and went to the hospital.

In a 911 call, the child's mother said the bullets were fired by someone in a grey Nissan.

Theo Munerlyn, Kamari's father, said Monday that he will remember his son in happier times.

"He was a smart, young boy," Tho Munerlyn said. "He was very smart, very energetic...always ready to tell me stories, wanted to go outside and play. He wanted to be a basketball player."

Theo Munerlyn said that he was not in the car when the shooting happened, but had seen his son a few hours before.

"That was the last time he was over here before I turned him over to his mom," Munerlyn said. "I didn't even really get a chance to say I love you or I'll talk to you later."

Authorities said the shooting was not a random incident.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Investigator J. Mitchell at 919-560-4440 ext 29335.