The 911 call in response to the beating and subsequent death of a UNC professor Wednesday afternoon reveals he was alive when first responders arrived on the scene.
The following is a redacted recording of the 911 call. Listener discretion is advised.
“There is an individual laying on the street at Ransom and West University.”
“At where?” the dispatcher asked.
“Ransom and West University. Right near the intersection here,” the caller said.
Fifty-nine-year-old Feng Liu of Durham was a professor in the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. He was known by his colleagues to take walks around the southern part of campus during his lunch breaks to reenergize.
Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue said a Town employee was one of the first to arrive to find that the professor had been attacked. He added that even members of the police department were shocked by the random crime that claimed the young professor’s life.
When the caller arrived to find Liu laying in the street, already there were signs of concern.
“And he’s just laying in the street?” the dispatcher asked.
“He’s kind of laying to the side, breathing hard. And he’s breathing and there were two gentlemen here when I pulled around the corner and there are couple of other people hanging out here now,” the caller said.
The dispatcher asked the caller to wait, then the caller went on to say, “According to a lady here who is pre-med, there is blood coming out of his nose and his mouth – and his ears.”
“There’s blood coming out of his nose and his ears?” the dispatcher asked.
“His ears, yes ma’am.”
The dispatcher asked his age,
“He looks like he’s in his mid-30s,” the caller said.
The dispatcher then asked if the man was awake.
“No, he’s unconscious. He’s not responding,” the caller said.
“He’s unconscious?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Is he breathing?”
“He is breathing, yes ma’am.”
“Is his breathing completely normal?”
“It sounds hard but he is breathing.”
First responders arrived and attended to Liu. He was transported to UNC Hospitals just a few blocks away. According to the News and Observer, prosecutors said Liu was hit in the head with a rock. He died the next morning as a result of serious head injuries.
The call also revealed that a number of people responded to the area in a reasonable amount of time, leading to ask the question of why the assailants chose that location and that time to take those actions.
Chapel Hill Police received enough information from someone who said they witnessed suspicious activity in the area to apprehend the suspects and arrest them Wednesday evening.
Derick Davis II, 23, of Scots Pine Crossing in Durham and Troy Arrington Jr., 27, of Johnson Street in Chapel Hill were arrested and charged with first degree murder, felony robbery, and assault. They’re being held at the Orange County jail without bond.
http://chapelboro.com/news/crime/911-call-professor-responsive-first-responders-arrived/Originally posted July 24, 2014, 10:31 a.m.
A research professor at the Eshelmen School of Pharmacy died at UNC Hospitals on Thursday morning from wounds suffered during a beating and robbery Wednesday afternoon. Now, the two suspects in custody for the assault face murder charges.
Feng Liu
Chapel Hill police found 59-year old Feng Liu, of Greyfield Boulevard in Durham, suffering from serious head wounds on West University Drive shortly after 1 p.m. on Wednesday. According to the News and Observer, prosecutors said Liu was hit in the head with a rock.
“Officers got there and determined he had been assaulted and robbed. He was taken to UNC ER for treatment,” says Lieutenant Josh Mecimore. “Later that evening, we were able to identify some suspects and charge them.”
Police arrested Derick Davis II, 23, of Scots Pine Crossing in Durham and Troy Arrington Jr., 27, of Johnson Street in Chapel Hill. Both men face charges of murder, felony robbery, and assault.
Derick Davis II
Troy Arrington Jr.
Davis is being held under a $100,000 secured bond and Arrington Jr. is being held under a $75,000 secured bond.
***Update from Chapel Hill Police July 25, 2014, 8:46 a.m.: Derick Davis II and Troy Arrington Jr. have been charged with First Degree Murder in the death of Feng Liu. Davis and Arrington are currently being held in the Orange County Jail without bond.
***Update from the News & Observer: Arrington was reported to be in between drug rehab programs. He scheduled to meet with his pretrial-release manager the same day of the attack.
Liu studied pharmaceutics science at Shenyang Pharmaceutical University in China and received his PhD at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. His research focused on gene and drug delivery.
After the news of the death of the UNC professor, many people on social media showed their concern that the incident occurred in the middle of the day in a residential area.
Very sad. RT @bmcsmith92: Prayers for the entire #UNC #TarHeel community #RIP http://t.co/pTRUO50oDf #ncpol #ncga
— Barry Smith (@Barry_Smith) July 24, 2014
R.I.P. to the pharmacy teacher at UNC. This world’s ridiculous. “Born a Carolina bred”.. And well.. You know the rest. #UNC
— Trent Brown (@Trentaforddf) July 24, 2014
Thoughts and prayers go out to Chapel Hill Professor Feng Liu. Your Carolina family will truly miss you. #UNC
— Rachel Gogal (@r_gogal12) July 24, 2014
WCHL’s Mary Yount went to Franklin Street yesterday afternoon to gather reactions.
Here’s what you had to say:
A Statement from Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt:
The death of Professor Feng Liu as a result of a serious assault and robbery Wednesday afternoon is a horrible tragedy and a loss for the Chapel Hill community.
A safe and secure environment is fundamental to our quality of life in Chapel Hill and, as a community, we must not tolerate such senseless violence. The Town and the University continue to partner on those matters impacting quality of life in Chapel Hill, public safety being chief among them.
Two suspects are currently in custody in the Orange County Jail in connection with this horrible incident. I have the utmost confidence in the investigation that is being conducted by the Chapel Hill Police Department, which will provide information to the public as it becomes available.
I offer my heartfelt condolences to Professor Liu’s family, friends, members of the University community, and all who knew him.
A Statement from UNC Chancellor Carol Folt:
http://chapelboro.com/news/crime/2-face-charges-robbery-victim-dies-following-assault/Dear Carolina community:
I am writing in regard to the tragic loss of a member of the Carolina community. As many of you know, Dr. Feng Liu, a research professor in the Eshelman School of Pharmacy, passed away this morning in what the Chapel Hill Police Department is calling a robbery/homicide. This is a tremendous loss to Carolina, and I am heartbroken over this horrible tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Liu’s family, colleagues and friends during this difficult time.
Dr. Liu spent nearly 10 years at Carolina and was dedicated to the success of his students. He conducted important research on gene and drug delivery in the School of Pharmacy. Most importantly, he was a loving husband and father who will be greatly missed.
The Chapel Hill Police Department has arrested two individuals in connection with this tragedy. We will update the University’s Alert Carolina website, http://alertcarolina.unc.edu, as new information is available.
The University is cooperating fully with Chapel Hill police in this investigation. I want to assure you that safety and security of students, faculty, staff and visitors on Carolina’s campus and in the surrounding community is my highest priority.
During this time of loss, the Carolina Community has resources to help us in our grief. We are making counseling resources available. We encourage students to call Counseling and Psychological Services (919-966-3658), and faculty and staff to contact our Employee Assistance Program (877-314-5841), if you would like support.
I encourage all members of the Carolina Community to process their grief and support one another.
Sincerely,
Carol L. Folt
Chapel Hill citizens are expressing through social media their concern for safety after a random act of attempted robbery led to the death of a UNC professor Wednesday afternoon.
Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue says he wants to assure all citizens that the police officers are constantly monitoring the community for suspicious activity to help keep the town as safe as possible.
“We’re proud of the nature of our community’s safety,” Chief Blue says. “It’s something that we all work very hard on as community members. In fact, we all have a responsibility for it, and I’m proud of the way our community rises to that challenge. I will say that this one is particularly troubling because it’s so random—in the middle of the day. All of our sense of safety as community members takes a hit when something so random and unexplained happens, as was the case here. Immediately our reaction as a police department is to increase presence in the neighborhoods and knock on doors and reassure folks. But, we also recognize that grieving and dealing with this kind of shocking circumstance takes some time. We’re scratching our heads a little bit just like everyone else in the community is about just why and how this could happen.”
WCHL’s Ran Northam spoke with Chief Blue
The incident took place just a couple blocks west of the UNC School of Public Health and split of Pittsboro and South Columbia streets. Fifty-nine-year-old Feng Liu, of Greyfield Boulevard in Durham and a professor in the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy was known to take a walk through the community during his lunch break, according to multiple media outlets. Colleagues said it was a way he reenergized himself daily.
Chief Blue says he can’t release any additional information because the investigation is ongoing, however, he says it was a town employee that first arrived to find Liu in need of medical attention. According to the News and Observer, prosecutors said Liu was hit in the head with a rock. He died at UNC Hospitals.
Public Information Lieutenant Josh Mecimore says the list of items stolen from Liu has not yet been released.
UNC Police Chief Jeff McCracken was out of town Friday and unable to be reached.
In a statement released through Alert Carolina, Chief McCracken emphasized how important it is to always be prepared.
“People should have a plan in mind about how to respond in an emergency because it’s very difficult to plan for an emergency when you’re in the middle of one,” he said. “It’s important for people to know beforehand where the exits are, where the fire escapes are, the safest place in the building to be if a tornado is spotted, that kind of thing. Planning decreases panic and increases the chance for a better outcome in an emergency situation.”
http://chapelboro.com/news/crime/ch-police-chief-robberymurder-random-act/Updated 6:25 a.m., July 3, 2014
Investigative documents and 911 calls regarding the murder investigation of UNC student Faith Hedgepeth were unsealed Wednesday, according to the Daily Tar Heel.
Durham County Superior Court Judge Howard Manning ordered the redacted search warrants and un-redacted 911 calls to be released after The Daily Tar Heel, Capital Broadcasting Company, Inc. and the News and Observer Publishing Company filed the motion to halt the sealing orders on March 3.
A 911 call tells how Hedgepeth’s roommate, Karena Rosario, found her face down in her bedroom. She told the 911 operator that she believed someone was in their apartment and even Rosario’s room.
The search warrants released were heavily redacted, but they showed that the Facebook accounts and laptops of Rosario were search, the apartment was search on September 7 and 10, and that police searched a 2012 Jeep on September 11.
Nineteen-year-old, Hedgepeth was found dead by her friends in her off-campus apartment on September 7, 2012.
The cause of death remains sealed, although Hedgepeth’s parents have said they believe she was beaten to death.
Durham County District Attorney Leon Stanback first asked the court to seal the documents three days after Hedgepath’s death, to keep from “compromising the investigation.” Since then, the documents have been sealed every 60 days, until the motion to halt the orders was filed.
According to the state’s previous motion to keep the documents sealed, there were search warrants for a 1977 Honda Accord, a unit in Hedgepeth’s apartment complex, and her own apartment, WNCN reported. Investigators also searched a laptop and a Facebook account.
Stanback told WCHL News in September of 2013 that he would seek to keep the documents sealed for as long as the courts allow.
The Durham District Attorney’s Office will prosecute a suspect, should any arrests be made, though the Chapel Hill Police Department is the investigating agency.
On January 8 of this year, the CHPD released details of the investigation, including DNA of a male suspect found at the scene.
Authorities continue to seek any information that could help in the investigation. Anyone with information should call the Chapel Hill Police Department at 919-614-6363 or Crime Stoppers at 919-942-7515.
A reward up to $39,000 is available to anyone with information that can help solve the case.
http://chapelboro.com/news/crime/hedgepeth-murder-information-released/The investigative documents into the murder of UNC sophomore Faith Hedgepeth remain sealed, pending a ruling on a motion filed by the local media to unseal the documents.
It’s been more than 20 months since the crime took place, and on March 3, The Daily Tar Heel, Capital Broadcasting Company, Inc. and the News and Observer Publishing Company filed the motion to halt the sealing orders.
Durham County Superior Court Judge Howard Manning is reviewing the motion. While he does, the documents remained sealed despite the last 60-day order’s expiration on May 18.
WCHL left multiple messages with Durham’s Assistant District Attorney Charlene Coggins-Franks and District Attorney Leon Stanbeck in the last three weeks to inquire the latest about the case, but they didn’t return the calls.
The 19-year-old was found dead by her friends in her off-campus apartment on September 7, 2012. Authorities have said they don’t believe the crime was a random act, though they haven’t disclosed how she was killed or information about a possible suspect or suspects.
Stanback first asked the court to seal the documents three days after Hedgepath’s death, to keep from “compromising the investigation.”
According to the state’s motion to keep the documents sealed, there were search warrants for a 1977 Honda Accord, a unit in Hedgepeth’s apartment complex, and her own apartment, WNCN reported. Investigators also searched a laptop and a Facebook account.
Stanback told WCHL News in September of 2013 that he would seek to keep the documents sealed for as long as the courts allow.
The Durham District Attorney’s Office will prosecute a suspect, should any arrests be made, though the Chapel Hill Police Department is the investigating agency.
On January 8 of this year, the CHPD released details of the investigation, including DNA of a male suspect found at the scene.
Chapel Hill Police continue to express that this is not a cold case and that it is continuing to follow leads.
Authorities continue to seek any information that could help in the investigation. Anyone with information should call the Chapel Hill Police Department at 919-614-6363 or Crime Stoppers at 919-942-7515.
A reward up to $39,000 is available to anyone with information that can help solve the case.
http://chapelboro.com/news/crime/murder-investigation-documents-still-sealed/A second suspect in the fatal shooting in south-west Chapel Hill on May 30 was arrested Wednesday.
The Chapel Hill Police Department reports that Brandon Shamar Townsend, 21, of Varina Drive in Durham was apprehended in Durham by the US Marshall’s Joint Fugitive Task Force. He has been charged with First Degree Murder and Attempted First Degree Murder.
Townsend is being held without bond at the Orange County Jail.
The incident was initially reported as a break-in at 102 S. Christopher Road. It resulted in the death of Lew Hahn Hood, 33, of Chapel Hill, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say Hood had multiple gunshot wounds.
Bartholomew Romidas Scott, 35, of Durham was arrested and charged with first degree murder soon after the incident when he was taken to police headquarters for questioning.
Chapel Hill Police Public Information Lieutenant Josh Mecimore told WCHL that neither Hood nor Scott were residents of the home where the shooting took place.
South Christopher Road runs parallel to 15-501, Fordham Boulevard, and the home is next to the onramp from NC-54.
Click here for more on this story.
http://chapelboro.com/news/crime/second-suspect-arrested-may-30-shooting/Story originally posted 2:02 p.m., June 2, 2014
Questions remain in Friday’s homicide in Southeast Chapel Hill as the investigation rolls on.
Chapel Hill Police Public Information Lt. Josh Mecimore confirmed Monday afternoon that no new information was available. When the first reports came in of the shooting, a few details were reported that are still unclear. The incident was initially reported as a break-in, but Lt. Mecimore said neither the victim nor the suspect were residents of the home where it took place at 102 S. Christopher Road. He said the dispatcher might have first used that description when there was little information.
South Christopher Road runs parallel to 15-501, Fordham Boulevard, and the home is next to the onramp from NC-54.
Lew Hahn Hood, 33, of Chapel Hill was pronounced dead at the scene on Friday afternoon, after police officers responded to a report of a shooting. Police say Hood had multiple gunshot wounds.
Bartholomew Romidas Scott, 35, of Durham was arrested and charged with first degree murder. He’s being held without bond in Orange County Jail, and had his first appearance in court Monday.
The Chapel Hill News reports that Scott’s attorney, Matt Suczynski, told the court Monday that it was Scott who called 911 to summon police to the scene. While the investigation is ongoing, Orange and Chatham District Attorney Jim Woodall said police believe, “at this time”, Scott is responsible for killing Hood.
Woodall also said police are trying to figure out if anyone else was involved.
Alert Carolina reported Friday that there were two black male suspects. UNC Department of Public Safety spokesperson, Randy Young said that was the early report released by Chapel Hill Police, that two black males were involved. Lt. Mecimore said Chapel Hill Police were not looking for a second suspect.
A June 12 probable cause hearing is now scheduled for Scott to determine whether police have enough evidence to hold him on the murder charge.
http://chapelboro.com/news/unc/fridays-homicide-investigation-continues/DURHAM – The courts are closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, so the Durham County District Attorney asked Judge Michael O’Foghludha to keep the investigative documents in the murder case of UNC student Faith Hedgepeth sealed an additional 60 days.
The previous order expires Monday. Assistant District Attorney Charlene Franks told WCHL that Judge O’Foghludha signed the order on Friday.
Hedgepeth was found murdered in her off-campus apartment on September 7, 2012.
On January 8, Chapel Hill Police released details of the investigation including DNA of a male suspect found at the scene. Little information has been released other than that.
The Chapel Hill Police Department continues to express that this is not a cold case and that it is continuing to follow leads.
Police continue seeking any information that could help in the investigation. Call the Chapel Hill Police Department at 919-614-6363 or Crime Stoppers at 919-942-7515.
A reward up to $39,000 is still available to someone submitting information that assists in the case.
http://chapelboro.com/news/crime/hedgepeth-investigative-documents-sealed-additional-60-days/ORANGE COUNTY – Orange County District Attorney Jim Woodall says his office won’t pursue the death penalty in a double homicide from 2012.
Facing charges are 20-year-old Curtis Kantawiti White, Jr. of Allie Mae Road in Cedar Grove and 24-year-old Ladelle Alverez Faucette of Apsley Drive in McLeansville.
Woodall says the families of the victims were consulted about level of punishment.
“We try to involve families as much as we can in almost any case where we have a victim,” Woodall says. “But I think in homicide cases there’s a lot more involvement, because it’s such a serious matter, and their losses are so great.”
Woodall says he believes that is something most district attorney’s offices do.
“The family doesn’t make the final decision, but it’s a very big factor in what we ultimately do,” Woodall says.
According to the Chapel Hill News, White and Faucette are charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon. They allegedly killed 52-year-old Phillip Johnson and 68-year-old Alexander “Skip” Wade in an attempted robbery at the Week in Treasures thrift store on Mill Creek Road in Cedar Grove.
Woodall says the trials could start this summer. If convicted, the men are facing life in prison.
http://chapelboro.com/news/crime/death-penalty-table-2012-double-homicide/CHAPEL HILL – Chapel Hill Police confirms that the condo where an alleged murder took place Wednesday night is the sight of numerous complaints.
Michelle Denise McClinton is charged with 1st degree murder in the stabbing death of her husband, Darryn Maurice Dye.
The incident took place in the condo of Dye’s sister, Angela Gilmore, which is unit G3 in the Brookside Condominiums on Hillsborough Street. Eric Plow, a member of the board of directors at the Brookside Homeowners Association, says there have been multiple complaints about fights, yelling and drunken behavior at G3.
“No one was surprised that a murder occurred in this unit because, for the past couple of years, we’ve had numerous, numerous neighbor complaints and police calls at this apartment,” Plow says.
Chapel Hill police patrol captain Danny Lloyd says police were called to the apartment in question three times this year, with Wednesday’s incident being the fourth.
Mary Jean Seyda, chief operations officer for CASA, says CASA was aware of the complaints from other Brookside residents and was in communication with the Brookside HOA and the apartment’s tenants. Seyda also says that the lease for G3 was near expiration.
“Our most recent action was on June 20 when we notified the HOA that CASA is not renewing the tenant’s lease, effective August 31,” Seyda says.
Gilmore say that McClinton and Dye stepped outside to have a conversation, and when they came back inside, McClinton retrieved a knife and “poked” Dye in the chest and “he just fell out on the floor.”
Police responded to a reported assault and arrived shortly after 10:00 p.m. Dye was pronounced dead at the scene.
http://chapelboro.com/news/crime/apartment-in-stabbing-murder-case-sight-of-complaints/ 68.5°F |
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