Accusations fly after shooting at Durham apartments

Accusations were flying outside Oakley Square Apartments in Durham Monday after a man was found shot to death in the parking lot.

Posted 2:05 p.m. May 18, 2015 — Updated 2:12 a.m. May 19, 2015

DURHAM, N.C. — Accusations were flying outside Oakley Square Apartments in Durham Monday after a man was found shot to death in the parking lot.

Authorities identified the dead man as Frederick Edgerton, 52, known to residents as "Mr. Fred," the property manager.

Brittany Daye, who lives in the complex, called the shooting "crazy," saying she was surprised anyone would want to hurt him. "He’s a good dude, tries to look out for people who needed help," Daye said.

Many said he had made positive changes to the neighborhood.

Timothy Williams, who was visiting Oakely Square, said, "Everybody I talked to this morning, nobody had anything negative to say about the gentleman."

Daye said she heard the shots, then saw people running.

"It was like two or three shots at first, then multiple shots again," Daye said.

"I heard the gunshots, but when I came out, I seen people running. When I came outside, I seen him lying on the ground out there," she said.

There was a scuffle after people who identified themselves as Edgerton's relatives chased a young man from the scene, accusing him of being the shooter. Police took that man into custody to protect him from the crowd and for questioning, but they said he is not a suspect in Edgerton's death.

Police did not provide any information about a motive for the crime or who might have done it, but they did say they don't believe the shooting was a random act.

About 30 residents gathered outside the apartment complex Monday night for a candlelight vigil.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Investigator M. Evans at 919-560-4440, extension 29336, or Durham Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves.

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