17-year-old killed in Durham is city's 18th juvenile shooting victim in 2023

Police are searching for answers after the 18th shooting of a juvenile in Durham so far in 2023. Keydren Pettiford died from his wounds.

On Thursday shortly before 12:30 p.m., officers with the Durham Police Department responded to a section of Carter Avenue near Spring Street. When officers arrived, they found a male who was unresponsive. EMS pronounced Pettiford dead at the scene.

Police said his death marks the 15th homicide in Durham in 2023.

The victim's family told WRAL News Pettiford was a teenager, and police on Friday confirmed he was 17. Durham Public Schools confirmed Pettiford was last enrolled in Hillside High School and transferred out in July of 2022.

WRAL News is working to learn if anyone was in custody. There is an active investigation, Durham police said.

Carter Avenue, between Rowena Avenue and Spring Street, was closed for several hours while police investigated.

"This is when I push back on people who say you're not doing enough," O'Neal said. "Then I have to look at them and say 'what are you doing?'"

"It has to be a partnership," said state senator Mike Woodard. "Local governments are those that are on the ground and that are closest to our communities, closest to our young people."

Woodard says he believes at the state level, lawmakers can help by pushing for stricter gun laws and more funding for mental health resources.

"We need to increase the number of counselors and psychologists in our schools," Woodard said. "That number has dwindled over the last decade and we need to beef that back up with our funding."

Anyone with information is asked to call 919-560-4440, extension 29538, or Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves.