Raleigh police arrest 2nd suspect in killing of Helping Hand Mission volunteer
Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson said Monday that a second person has been charged in connection with the murder of Charlie Debnam.
Debnam, a 31-year-old drum major who was volunteering with the Helping Hand Mission, was fatally struck by crossfire between the occupants of two cars on Rock Quarry Road on the night of July 31.
Earlier on Monday, authorities arrested Jerome Rayshawn Smith, 23, in Rocky Mount in connection with Debnam’s death, and brought him back to Raleigh, Patterson said at the news conference, her first since being sworn in as chief last week. Smith was indicted by a grand jury and has been charged with murder, records show.
Smith’s arrest came 10 days after law enforcement authorities in Massachusetts arrested Marcus Walton, 29, on Aug. 6, and charged him with murder in connection with Debnam’s death. Walton is currently being brought back to North Carolina as well, Patterson said.
Debnam was an “unintended target” of the shooting, police officials said during Monday’s news conference.
Patterson did not offer details on Monday of how authorities were able to identify and find the two suspects, but thanked members of the community and the public, both in Raleigh and Massachusetts, for providing law enforcement with tips.
The Massachusetts State Police said in a release that Walton was found hiding in the fifth-floor apartment of a building in Revere, Mass, approximately 15 minutes outside of Boston.
Walton tried to jump from the fifth floor of the building but law enforcement officials talked him into going back inside and surrendering, the release said. He was subsequently arraigned at Chelsea District Court.
Patterson offered her “deepest condolences” to Debnam’s family, saying she was “saddened that Mr. Debnam’s life was lost so senselessly.”
Patterson asked that anyone with additional information about the case or the two suspects contact the CrimeStoppers hotline at 919-834-4357.
This story was originally published August 16, 2021 at 4:10 PM.
