Gun violence remains a concern in Durham as search underway for new police chief

The 60-year-old woman was taken to a local hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Police said a group of people were shooting toward someone on the street. Several shots were fired, and bullets reached Webb Circle, just around the corner.

Durham police solved 1 in 10 shootings in 2020

"I got the children safe, of course, down low and tried to check the perimeter just to see how much danger we were in," described Katina Harris. "It just sounded like a back-and forth-kind of shooting. Not just a regular shot, but a back and forth."

Officials do not believe the woman injured was involved with the group of people shooting.

Durham Police officers were on the scene of the shooting investigating at around 5 p.m.

One man also walked into a nearby hospital with gunshot wounds, officials said. It is not clear if that injury is connected to the shooting on Reid Drive.

While investigators were on Reid Drive, Durham officials hosted a listening session to get community feedback about the next police chief.

Chief C.J. Davis is leaving Durham next month to lead the police department in Memphis, Tenn.

"Durham has a real struggle with recruiting right now. Staffing is way down," said Larry Smith, Durham Fraternal Order of Police spokesman.

With the department 74 officers short, he voiced on Tuesday night the need for a chief who will be an advocate for the community and officers.

“As we have talked to officers who have left the Durham Police Department, it hasn’t been as much about pay as it has been about support," said Smith.

Aside from Smith, no one in the community came to the microphone.

The firm conducting a national search for the next chief is encouraging more people to weigh in.

"Sometimes, we hear from the most vocal people in the community, but we don't hear from the people that may have concerns or issues but they don't want to come forward," said Pat Bazemore, with Developmental Associates.

Durham mayor speaks in nationwide discussion on gun safety, as Durham gun violence shows dramatic increase

The search for a chief is happening as the Bull City tries to combat violent crime.

The overall number of shootings is down 7 percent from 2020. However, the 17 people killed in the last five months represents a nearly 90 percent increase over last year.