Durham community rattled after 2 drive-by shootings less than 24 hours apart

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — A family is coping with a scary afternoon in Durham after bullets hit their SUV. No one was hit, but the vehicle is riddled with bullets.

Durham resident Ruth Fuller described the moments after another shooting on Tuesday on Larchwood Drive. She said her 8-year-old granddaughter had just gotten off the bus.

“I thought it was the TV because I watched TV a lot. And then I told my granddaughter, ‘hit the floor,’” said Fuller.

Bullets hit Fuller’s front yard and the front window, but the target was a silver truck driving by her home.

“I came out and saw this guy laying in this truck, blood everywhere. It was a woman with him. And in fact, she came up to the house, and she was distraught,” said Fuller.

Bishop Darion White shared surveillance video from Victorious Life Fellowship Church, showing the moment police found the truck with multiple gunshots.

The Durham Police Department told ABC11 a man was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, and a woman is expected to survive.

As a 20-year resident in the neighborhood, Fuller said she has never experienced any violence in the area.

Then, 24 hours later, bullets struck a black SUV at Pettigrew and Briggs. A woman driving with her two children, an 8-year-old and an 11-year-old, when a car began shooting in her direction.

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Pajah Clemons was shocked to learn 23 bullets were recovered from the scene.

“It makes me feel really scared and anxious,” said Clemons.

Thankfully, no one in the SUV was injured. ABC11 caught the moment a man arrived to embrace his loved ones.

As of August, Durham reported that violent crime is down by 19%. However, violence remains an issue the community is grappling with, along with gang activity.

“I think this summer’s been much better. I think crime has definitely been down,” said Community Advocate Sherard Johnson.

Johnson realizes change takes time.

“I think it’s going to take a collective of folks here in Durham to sit down, do research, and not depend on our elected officials. We have to do something ourselves,” he said.

White is inviting the public to a major meeting with Durham CAN on October 19 from 3 pm – 5 pm at St. Mark Church.