Man pleads guilty in shooting outside Durham County Courthouse

Equaan Straiter, 30, pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and was sentenced to 84 to 113 months in prison, followed by a year on probation, authorities said.

Police said a man was shot outside the courthouse on April 3 and went to the main entrance of the building for help before collapsing.

Straiter and Jordan Armand Terrell, 25, of Durham, were arrested about 2 miles away after a brief police pursuit.

Terrell is accused of shooting the victim five times and is awaiting federal prosecution in connection with the incident.

Durham County Assistant District Attorney Michael Wallace said the shooting occurred after the victim confronted Terrell inside the courthouse, where Terrell was due to appear in an unrelated matter. An altercation between the two men ensued and continued in front of the building.

Straiter helped Terrell flee the scene, Wallace said.

"This is one of the most brazen offenses for this shooting to take place at a courthouse, where these matters are usually sorted out," Wallace said in a statement. "It was very volatile, and more people could have been injured."