Reward Offered For Information Regarding 2 Durham Homicides

The first homicide occurred Jan. 24, 2004 on Canal Street.

According to police, several people were standing in the 500 block of Canal Street around 3:30 p.m. when the occupants of a small red or gray car fired several shots at them.

Police said the car was last seen on Canal Street heading toward Elizabeth Street.

Carlos Clayton, 24, of North Elizabeth Street, died at a local hospital later that evening. A second man, 20-year-old Robert Lee, was treated at the hospital for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

Police are investigating the possibility that the incident may have been gang-related. There were three or four males in the suspect vehicle.

The second homicide occurred around 4 p.m. Feb. 6 inside Ace Muffler and Radiator Shop at 910 East Geer Street.

The owner, 48-year-old Tony Herndon, was shot in the neck and died a short time later at Duke University Hospital.

The suspect is described as a black male in his mid to late 20s, 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall with close-cut hair. Police are still trying to determine a motive for the slaying.

Anyone with information on either homicide is asked to call investigator Anthony Smith at

560-4440, ext. 239,

or CrimeStoppers at

683-1200.

CrimeStoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases. Callers do not have to give their names.