Raleigh police investigating after 6 rush-hour shootings into cars on I-40
Updated: Two people have been detained in connection with the shootings, which have climbed to 12 incidents. See this story for the latest.
Raleigh police are investigating after at least six separate shootings into cars during morning rush hour along Interstate 40.
Deputy Chief Rico Boyce said the first incident was reported Monday near the Chapel Hill Road exit when a woman suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to her leg.
Later that day, police responded to a second call from a victim reporting a single gunshot to their vehicle while traveling near the Buck Jones Road exit; that person was not injured, Boyce said during a news conference Wednesday.
No incidents were reported Tuesday, but at 4:58 a.m. Wednesday, police were called to a shooting near the Chapel Hill Road exit, Boyce said. There were a total of four incidents Wednesday, he said.
“During the course of the investigation, additional victims reported that their vehicles were also struck by gunfire shortly after the original call came in,” Boyce said. “While no one was injured during this morning’s incidents, we are actively working to identify the individual or individuals responsible.”
On Thursday, police said they were investigating another incident where shots were fired at a man’s car on Trailwood Drive earlier that morning. But Boyce said the department has “no credible information” yet that the incident is connected to any others.
Thursday’s shooting happened just before 9 a.m. in the 1400 block, which sits about half a mile from I-40 and near the Gorman Street exit where one of the earlier shootings occurred.
“I want to ensure the community that we are doing all we can as the city of Raleigh to keep our citizens safe,” he said.
Boyce would not comment Wednesday on whether investigators believe the shots are coming from another vehicle or from the side of the road. The weapon in question is thought to be a handgun, he said.
“We are working closely with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office and the Cary Police Department to investigate these incidents,” he said. “We are asking for the public to contact us if they recall anything that may be valuable to this investigation.”
Investigators are especially interested in potential dash cam footage from those traveling along I-40 during the early morning hours on Monday or Wednesday, Boyce said. Tips can be submitted by calling CrimeStoppers at 919-916-9113 or visiting the CrimeStoppers website at www.raleighcrimestoppers.org.
At least some of the incidents are believed to be connected, and Raleigh police will be providing extra patrols along Interstate 40 in the coming days, Boyce said.
“We’re going to be out there until we find who is responsible for this incident,” he said.
This story was originally published November 6, 2024 at 5:00 PM.
