Man found guilty, faces 18 years in prison for shooting in Chapel Hill

A Durham man faces 18 years in prison after he was found guilty in an April shooting in Chapel Hill

In the days following the April 2, 2023, shooting at 1506 Mason Farm Road, Ronell Canion, 29, was charged with eight felony counts:

• Assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury
• Discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle resulting in serious bodily injury (4 counts)
• Discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle (3 counts)

Following a six-day trial, he was found guilty Wednesday on all counts, according to Jeff Nieman, district attorney for Orange and Chatham counties.

“This was an extremely violent shooting that endangered the life of not just his intended victim, who was seriously injured, but also dozens of innocent bystanders, including multiple children,” said Nieman. "It is not uncommon for unintended victims to be shot and killed in crimes like this, particularly when someone brazenly opens fire in such a public place in broad daylight."

The shooting occured at 2 p.m, less than 1 mile from the Dean Smith Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Nieman said Canion attempted to influence a witness during his trial and appeared to show no remorse for the victim.

One person was seriously injured in the April 2 shooting. Police said the victim, who was not affiliated with UNC, appeared to be targeted.

Canion was arrested in Durham 10 days after the shooting.