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One person dies after six shot in separate shootings across Durham; neighbors struggle to reach 911 center

Three men and a woman were shot in the McDougald Terrace housing complex in Durham at the intersection of Wabash Street and Ridgeway Avenue. Police confirmed Thursday that one of the victims died.
Posted 2021-08-19T02:19:48+00:00 - Updated 2021-08-20T01:57:24+00:00
'I called six times': Durham neighbors struggle to reach 911 center after string of shootings

One person has died and five people were injured in at least two separate shootings in Durham on Wednesday night.

Three men and a woman were shot in the McDougald Terrace housing complex in Durham at the intersection of Wabash Street and Ridgeway Avenue. Police confirmed Thursday that one of the victims died.

Larry Wynne Jackson Jr., 30, was pronounced dead shortly after officers responded.

McDougald Terrace Resident Council President Ashley Canady said she was returning home from the store when the shooting happened.

Five people were injured in separate shootings in Durham on Wednesday night.
Five people were injured in separate shootings in Durham on Wednesday night.

"The shots started ringing out, and it's like the shots wouldn't even stop," described Canady. "I actually thought my baby was hit."

Canady said she stripped her child down to make sure there were no injuries. After seeing that her child was OK, she started hearing people call her name.

According to Canady, it was difficult to get a 911 operator on the phone.

"What really broke my heart was how many times I called 911 and nobody picked up," she said. "I called six times and on the sixth try, I finally got somebody to pick up. It was just the worst thing when you have so many victims around you and the community is in chaos, and then just to see all the bullets out here ... something has to be done."

Less than a mile from that shooting, another man was shot in the 1000 block of Linwood Avenue. Police said the man was taken to a local hospital, where he was in stable condition on Thursday.

A short time later, a woman was dropped off at a local hospital with a gunshot wound. She told officers she was shot while in the vehicle with the man on Linwood Avenue.

It was unclear if the shootings were related.

“We in the Durham Police Department refuse to accept this as normal and we remain committed to work tirelessly to investigate these violent acts and arrest those involved. We continue to devote our resources in an effort to protect our community from senseless and reckless shootings,” said Interim Police Chief Shari Montgomery.

Durham representatives released a statement surrounding the reports of residents struggling to reach 911 following the shootings.

"The City deeply regrets that one or more residents have reported difficulties reaching 911 last night to report a shooting incident. At this time, Durham 911 can confirm that two shooting incidents occurred around 9 p.m. at about the same time causing a surge of calls in the 911 center. Between 9:15 and 9:45 p.m., 81 calls were received as a result of these two incidents. Any time the center receives heavy volumes of calls like these, callers may experience delays but should stay on the line and their call will be answered."

"911 staff have reached out to a resident who reported reaching a recording. Durham 911 does not have any recordings that a caller would receive when dialing 911. Staff are investigating her concern and researching the claim with our technology partners."

WRAL News has been following a staffing shortage at Durham's 911 center for months, where 25 positions are open. Nine days ago, a woman told WRAL she had to call 911 four times when someone broke into her home.

Councilman Mark-Anthony Middleton brought up concerns at a council meeting on Thursday afternoon.

"I think for each of us it should absolutely be unacceptable and issue No. 1 that our residents and citizens in their darkest hours and most challenging times are calling 911 and have to keep calling back," Middleton said.

Durham City Manager Wanda Page said she would have her staff bring a report to city council at its next work session to update them on the staffing situation.

Earlier this month, officials said more than 80% of 911 calls are answered in 20 seconds or less.

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