Delfonia Tanyette Wright, a 48-year-old African American woman, was tragically killed on December 12, 2021, in Burlington, NC. The incident occurred during a domestic dispute at a home on Cates Loop Road. Wright was in a relationship with 45-year-old Alfonza McDuffie, who had moved in with her about six weeks prior to the incident. On that fateful day, McDuffie and Wright began to argue, which escalated into a violent confrontation.
McDuffie, who had a history of violent offenses, including assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, shot and killed Wright and her cousin, 45-year-old Tomeka Toshil Wright Spaulding.
The Alamance County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call about the shooting just before 3 p.m. on December 12, 2021. Deputies arrived at the scene to find Wright and Spaulding dead from apparent bullet wounds. A third woman, who was also present at the time of the shooting, managed to escape by knocking down a door and diving through a window. She later recounted the traumatic experience to the authorities.
Following the shooting, McDuffie stole Wright's car and fled the scene. The Alamance County Sheriff's Office issued a Be On the Look Out notice to law enforcement across the state. McDuffie was eventually apprehended in Sampson County, where he was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of larceny of a motor vehicle. He is currently being held without bond for the murder charges and with a $20,000 bond for the larceny charge.
The tragic deaths of Delfonia Tanyette Wright and Tomeka Toshil Wright Spaulding have highlighted the ongoing issue of domestic violence and its devastating consequences. Sheriff Terry Johnson of Alamance County criticized the criminal justice system for failing to keep dangerous individuals like McDuffie off the streets. He emphasized the need for stricter measures to prevent repeat offenders from causing further harm. The case has also drawn attention to the rising number of domestic violence incidents and homicides in Alamance County, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
