Slaying suspect nabbed in N.Y.

CARY -- A Durham man charged with shooting another man at a Cary apartment complex in April was arrested Thursday in a small town on Long Island, N.Y.

Kenneth Lamont Taylor was taken into custody by U.S. marshals in Mastic, N.Y., Cary police said. A warrant for Taylor's arrest was issued May 12.

Taylor, 33, is accused of shooting Jibrael Menelik on April 10 in a breezeway at The Grove atCary Park apartments in northwestern Cary.

Menelik, 28, of Apex was conscious when police arrived but was later pronounced dead at Duke University Medical Center. It was the town's first murder since 2008.

Once in the custody of North Carolina authorities, Taylor will face murder charges, police said.

"I'm very proud of the tireless efforts and excellent police work of our officers and hope that today's arrest, in some small way, brings a level of comfort and closure to Mr. Menelik's family and loved ones," Pat Bazemore, Cary's police chief, said in video statement on the town's website.

Menelik's sister, Stacie Dunn, said she never had doubts the police would catch Taylor.

"I'm just so pleased with the Cary Police Department for sticking with this case," Dunn said in an inter view. "You don't always see that."

Menelik's father, Lee Dunn, said he was relieved by the news.

"But there's really nothing that can ease the pain," he said Thursday. "I want him to get the maximum sentence for taking my son from me.

"I think about my son every day," he added. "It's been a long three months."

Suspect's record

Taylor is a registered sex offender who was charged in 2005 with first-degree rape of a child. He eventually pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of taking indecent liberties with a minor and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Taylor was released in 2007, one month short of two years behind bars, state records show.

In 2000, police charged Taylor with second-degree rape in Durham County. He was convicted of first-degree kidnapping and sentenced to three years' probation, state records show.

Taylor also has criminal convictions for trespassing, public disturbance, fictitious information to an officer, reckless driving, driving while impaired, failing to register as a sex offender, financial card fraud and felony possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver drugs, court records show.

Staff writer Paul A. Specht contributed to this report.