Durham police release name of man found fatally shot on sidewalk
This story was updated Nov. 25, 2020, to identify the man found killed.
Durham police are investigating the fatal shooting of a man who was found dead on a sidewalk early Saturday morning.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday in the 4000 block of Meriwether Drive, according to a Durham Police Department news release.
Police on Monday identified the man as Keith Ashanti Kennedy, 46, of Durham. No arrests or suspects were announced.
Durham police had responded to 823 shootings as of Nov. 7 compared with 580 shootings over that same period in 2019, according to data provided by police spokeswoman Kammie Michael.
Of the 274 people shot in those incidents, 24 had died, the data showed. By the same time last year, 159 people had been shot and 29 people had died.
Although most of this year’s shooting victims were between the ages of 16 and 34, the police department reported that 12 victims were age 15 or younger. Fifty-nine victims were ages 35 to 64.
Durham Mayor Steve Schewel and Police Chief C.J. Davis responded to the increasing number of shootings in a news conference Nov. 12 following the drive-by shooting of 15-year-old Anthony Adams.
Policing is not enough to solve the problem of gangs and shootings, Davis said. She noted steps that the department has taken, including a centralized shooting task force and better information sharing. The community also is working with the city to address social issues that lead to crime and to young people joining gangs, she said.
The police department continues to review, adjust and re-evaluate its approach to dealing with gun violence, Michael said in a recent email. Community relationships also are important, she said.
“Partnering with our community to stop gun violence is an important aspect of our work to be successful. We value and appreciate the assistance of citizens willing to provide critical information, which can help prevent and solve shooting incidents,” Michael said.
Anyone with information about Saturday’s shooting on Meriwether Drive can call Investigator Evans at 919-560-4440, ext. 29336, or CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200. Calls to CrimeStoppers are anonymous, and cash rewards are available for information leading to an arrest.
This story was originally published November 21, 2020 at 11:35 AM.
