Durham Police have announced that eight arrests have been made as part of an initiative focused on a string of violent gun crimes in late 2015 and early 2016.

Authorities say Durham saw a 47 percent decrease in non-fatal and fatal shootings from January 7 through January 31, 2016, when compared with the period from December 13, 2015, through January 6. Durham saw homicides nearly double in 2015.

Durham Mayor Bill Bell joined Interim Police Chief Larry Smith and Sheriff Mike Andrews on January 7 to call for an end to the gun violence.

“It’s not going to be tolerated. We don’t tolerate it. We’re going to put a stop to it,” Bell said at the press conference.

Law enforcement identified 19 individuals who were believed to be connected with the stretch of violent crime. Officials announced the arrests of eight of those 19 individuals, on Tuesday.

“We are still working closely with the community to reduce violent crime and we appreciate the assistance we have received,” said Smith.

Community members have been calling for more consistency from law enforcement.

Police say officers from several units have been focused on the identified people of interest and those who have been arrested face charges ranging from failure to appear in court up to murder.

Those arrested are 33-year-old Terence Deyon Foster, 27-year-old Andre Dewayne Johnson, 25-year-old Deshawn Bailey, 23-year-old Messiah Gattis, 21-year-old Lamonte Colbert, 22-year-old Michael Gill, 16-year-old Najay Peace and 20-year-old Keon Deloatch.

Foster was arrested January 5 and is facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, failure to appear on earlier charges and a parole violation. He was placed in the Durham County Jail with no bond and was later transferred to Central Prison in Raleigh.

Johnson was arrested on January 6 and charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to manufacture, sell or deliver, two counts of possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting, delaying and obstructing a government official. Johnson was arrested while he was out of jail on bond for prior charges of trafficking in Schedule 1 controlled substances and other charges. Johnson was released from prison after posting a $100,000 bond.

Bailey was arrested on January 6 for failure to appear on a traffic charge. He posted a $1,500 bond.

Gattis was arrested on January 7 after a standoff at an apartment on Junction Road. Gattis is charged with injury to property, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, carrying a concealed weapon, going armed to the terror of the public, discharging a firearm from an enclosure, 10 counts of discharging a firearm within the city limits and resisting, delaying and obstructing an officer. Gattis was released pending indictments.

Colbert was arrested on January 8 on outstanding common-law robbery, communicating threats and larceny charges. Colbert remains in jail under a $6,500 bond.

Gill was arrested on January 8 on an outstanding probation/parole violation. He was placed in the Durham County Jail under no bond and later transferred to the Polk Correctional Facility.

Peace was arrested on January 14. He is facing charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and resisting, delaying and obstructing a government official. He was released from prison after posting a $7,500 bond and was arrested January 15 and charged with felony larceny of a vehicle. Peace then posted $15,000 bond and is currently out of jail.

Deloatch was arrested on January 20 and charged with murder in connection with a January 4 shooting death. Deloatch was placed in the Durham County Jail with no bond.

Related Stories
‹
Orange County Sheriff's Office Announces Arrest in 25-Plus Break-Ins
Orange County authorities have arrested a man suspected in more than 25 break-ins across five counties. Investigators with the Orange and Durham county sheriff’s offices and members of the Durham Police Department located and arrested 31-year-old Leron Kelly Owens around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to a release from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Owens was […]
Chapel Hill Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested
A Durham man has been arrested in connection with a Chapel Hill bank robbery last week. Police records show that 28-year-old Brandon Deshon China has been charged with six felony counts and was arrested on Friday, March 16. He is charged in connection with the robbery at the SunTrust Bank on West Franklin Street last […]
Chapel Hill Police Arrest Suspect in Weekend Armed Robbery, Kidnapping
Chapel Hill Police have arrested a Carrboro teenager in connection with a weekend robbery and kidnapping. Authorities say 16-year-old Roman Gonzalez, of 605 Jones Ferry Road in Carrboro, was taken into custody and charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and second-degree kidnapping. Gonzalez is alleged to have displayed a silver pistol after asking the […]
Suspect in I-85 Shooting in Orange County Arrested
A suspect has been arrested in connection with a reported shooting near I-85 in late November. Authorities say 21-year-old Matthew Murty was arrested by members of the US Marshals Joint Fugitive Task Force just before 3 p.m. Wednesday. Murty allegedly fired multiple shots at three victims standing outside of their disabled vehicle off of I-85 […]
Deceased Suspect Identified in Orange County Breaking and Entering
Orange County authorities have identified a suspect involved in a Hillsborough breaking and entering from February thanks to a piece of a latex glove at the scene. But that now-identified suspect was shot and killed in Durham shortly after the Hillsborough incident. A release from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office says the recently received information […]
Man Charged in Durham 2005 Incident Arrested in Hillsborough
A man charged with multiple felonies in connection with a 2005 incident in Durham has been arrested in Hillsborough. Officials with the United States Marshals Joint Fugitive Task Force arrested 41-year-old Marco Antwan Parker Wednesday morning at an apartment on Orange Grove Road in Hillsborough. Durham Police charged Parker with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary, first-degree […]
Police Find Stolen Construction Equipment in North Carolina
Police say they have found stolen construction equipment at a man’s home in North Carolina. Durham police said Wednesday they found a crane stolen from a worksite two weeks ago at the home of 34-year-old Jeffrey Jeffries. Investigators said they found several other pieces of equipment at Jones’ home. They said the crane had been […]
Arrests Made After Chapel Hill Apartment Break-In
Two Durham men have been arrested following a break-in at a Chapel Hill apartment complex. Authorities say suspects broke into an apartment on Melville Loop around 11:15 Monday morning and stole nearly $3,000 worth of property, including multiple laptops, televisions and jewelry, according to the police report. Officials say the suspects fled the scene and […]
Gunman Forces Family to Shop at Target in North Carolina
A North Carolina man has been arrested after police say he kidnapped a family at gunpoint and forced them to take him shopping. Media outlets report, Durham police say on Tuesday 29-year-old Rollin Anthony Owens Jr. knocked on the door of a house in the West End neighborhood asking for money. A resident gave Rollins […]
Puppy Stolen from Durham Animal Protection Society
A puppy was stolen from the Animal Protection Society of Durham’s animal shelter on Saturday and officials are asking for assistance tracking down the dog. Officials say Janet, a Yorkie-Chihuahua mix, was taken in the mid-afternoon on Saturday, January 21. It was discovered that the puppy was missing on Monday and a police report was […]
›