Durham crime report: Most homicides in first months of 2022 unsolved

Chief Patrice Andrews' 14-page first quarter crime report will show violent crime is up between January and March, and the people responsible are not getting caught. The chief is expected to present the report to Durham City Council at 1 p.m.

Durham chief addresses recent shootings: 'Durham is not immune to this continued trend'

The report shows, out of 11 homicide cases that occurred in that time frame, only one is solved. An arrest brings closure for families forever changed by violence.

The report indicates homicides are up 57% year-over-year, and violent crime is up 8% year-over-year.

Durham has had 182 shootings this year alone, data shows

Sherry Williams’ son was murdered in 2007, and the case is now a cold case. She said she is disappointed to hear many more families in Durham aren’t getting the answers they need.

"It breaks my heart," Williams said. "It breaks my heart because I know what I’ve been through, and to know that other mothers are going through the same thing that I’ve been through ... something has to be done. Something has to be done. As mothers, you know we don’t want to lose our kids before it’s their time. And to have our child murdered, you know we definitely want answers."

Despite raises, police officer vacancies are on the rise at Durham Police Department

"I’m disappointed because we have been having a lot more conversations in our communities, trying to figure out how to build the trust and relationships," said council member DeDreana Freeman. "But I am not surprised, because it is going to take time."

Freeman said filling vacancies at the department is also a key component.

Although Durham City Council gave officers a pay boost this year, data from the Durham Police Department showed vacancies numbers continued to climb from November 2021 to April 2022.

Among central North Carolina police agencies, Durham has the second-highest vacancy rate. Only Carrboro has more with 23 percent of positions vacant.