Durham saw record number of shootings in 2020, but this year could be worse

Officials said Chief Davis was a late addition as a candidate and has prompted the city to delay their selection.

She is now one of eight finalists.

This update comes as the number of Durham shootings this year is outpacing last year – and last year, there were more shootings than ever.

Police cars and yellow tape are becoming a familiar scene in Durham. This past week, a family was heartbroken after the death of a young man.

The latest Durham Police statistics show the number of shootings, the number of people shot, and the number of fatal shootings are all higher than this same time last year.

The shootings brought Councilwoman DeDreana Freeman to tears.

She said, "I don’t know where we go from here, but I know I’m committed to making sure that steps are taken to improve the outcome for Black and brown folks in this city."

Maria Cortez Luna lost her sister Jessica last year. The killer has still not been arrested.

"I can’t sleep that much. My mom neither, my sisters," she said. "We're mad. Because we haven't had justice for her."

She said the pain never goes away.

Tammie Goodman is also still waiting for justice for her son Charleston, who disappeared in 2018. Police believe he was murdered.

Many in Durham, including some city leaders, have said they believe the focus should be on tackling crime’s root causes.

But the families grieving loss have a different perspective – they believe the solution is more policing.

Chief Davis has previously sought funding to hire additional officers, but it was denied by City Council.