Slaying suspect charged in robbery 20 minutes after killing

Officers have charged Deamonte Tavaris Brooks, of Stone Lick Drive, with killing Nathan Elmore, 17, of Creedmoor, and injuring Christopher Hunter, 16, of Creedmoor, and James Downey, 21, of Durham, during a party at an apartment at 906 Glendale Ave. around 11:20 p.m. last Saturday.

Around 11:40 p.m., investigators charged, Brooks and another man approached a 38-year-old man in the 1200 block of Mangum Street. One man pointed a gun at the victim's face and demanded money.

The victim handed over his wallet, but it didn't have any money in it, so Brooks struck the victim on the head with the gun, officers said. The victim sustained a cut on his head.

The scenes of the robbery and the shooting were less than a mile apart.

In the robbery, Brooks has been charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and assault inflicting serious injury.

He also faces murder charges in Elmore's death and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and inflicting serious injury for the injuries suffered by Downey and Hunter.

No one has been charged in the death of a fourth man, Shelton Henderson Jr., 19, of Durham, at the party. Henderson was the half-brother of Demario Atwater, a suspect in the slaying of Eve Carson, a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill senior and student body president.

Dylan Shaquan Turner, 17, was charged with possession of a firearm by a minor after the party.

Police said the investigation into all the crimes was ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator Soucie at 919-560-4440 ext. 274, Sgt. Cates at 919-560-4440 ext 262 or 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.