Durham police say a deadly stabbing that took place on Monday along the American Tobacco Trail (ATT) was not a random incident.
The man who was killed was 51-year-old Chesleigh Lyons.
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Police have not named a suspect or made an arrest, but they have said it appears that Lyons knew his attacker. Investigators said the attack is not believed to have been planned, and the general public is under no threat.
Lyons was found dead behind a building near the intersection of Fayetteville and Pilot streets, which is a stretch of the ATT that's drawn concerns from the community in recent years.
On Tuesday, a friend of Lyons said he was a good man.
"He was a sweet guy," said Constance Williams.
Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams said he's aware of the concerns brought up by community members about the trail.
"Some of the things we’ve heard complaints about are fires, open fires, trash, and the need for lighting in some other parts of the trail as well," Williams said.
Durham police are asking anyone who traveled on the ATT between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday to contact them at 919-560-4440 at extension 29544. People can also call CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200 or submit a tip online.