Crime

Police investigate homicide in North Raleigh involving motorcycle crash

Multiple neighbors reported hearing gunshots and seeing speeding bikes on a residential street off Lead Mine Road in North Raleigh.
Multiple neighbors reported hearing gunshots and seeing speeding bikes on a residential street off Lead Mine Road in North Raleigh.

Raleigh police are investigating a New Year’s Day homicide in which multiple neighbors on a street north of the Beltline reported gunshots and motorcycles speeding up to 80 mph.

Three days after the incident, police announced they were investigating the killing near Valley Estates Drive and Bayberry Lane. Officers also posted a notice on a neighborhood Nextdoor page Wednesday, asking for security footage of passing motorcycles.

On Sunday, police reported a motorcycle wreck on Bayberry Lane, involving a man thrown from the bike and hospitalized with serious injuries.

Several neighbors reported seeing the crash and the motorcycle splayed out on the street. Several more added they had heard between eight and 10 gunshots at the time of the crash and seen other motorcycles speeding away from the scene.

JOSH SHAFFER jshaffer@newsobserver.com

A memorial has since gone up on a utility pole near the site. The name “Lefty” and “GFPD” appear painted on a sign decorated with an Ultra Roofing baseball cap and several cigarette butts.

Police have released no identifying information, and several people at what appeared to be the dead man’s house declined to speak Wednesday.

Police ask anyone who may have information to contact Crimestoppers at www.p3tips.com/897 for anonymous reporting options or to call 919-996-1193.

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This story was originally published January 4, 2023 at 11:44 AM.

Josh Shaffer
The News & Observer
Josh Shaffer is a general assignment reporter on the watch for “talkers,” which are stories you might discuss around a water cooler. He has worked for The News & Observer since 2004 and writes a column about unusual people and places.
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