Durham man charged with murder after allegedly barricading apartment
A Durham man was charged with first-degree murder Wednesday after police say he barricaded himself in an apartment where officers found a woman’s body.
Police responded to the 1100 block of Laurel Springs Drive at 12:32 p.m, according to a news release.
The man, Christopher Brian Whitley, 31, eventually surrendered and was arrested without incident after officers surrounded the apartment.
Police found 34-year-old Auriel Lowe dead inside the apartment, according to the release.
Police said Whitley and Lowe are believed to have been in a relationship at the time of the incident.
Anyone with any information is asked to call Investigator A. Bongarten at 919-560-4440 ext. 29529 or CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200, or online at www.durhamcrimestoppers.org.
CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves.
Durham police are also investigating a second death they reported Wednesday after an 18-year-old died from gunshot wounds.
This story was originally published September 10, 2025 at 4:50 PM.
.jpg)