Robert Antone Bam Baines, a 38-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on February 3, 2021, in Durham, North Carolina. The incident occurred around 5:50 p.m. in the 200-block of Cushman Street. Baines' death was part of a double homicide that also claimed the life of 40-year-old Corey Gooch, another African American male, who was found dead from a gunshot wound in the 500-block of Hardee Street shortly after Baines was shot.
The suspect in these murders, Mario Blanding, a 33-year-old male, was arrested on February 18, 2021, in the 100-block of Apogee Drive. Blanding was charged with the murders of both Baines and Gooch. The police investigation revealed that the shootings were related, and Blanding was held in the Durham County Jail without bond on the murder charges.
In addition to the murder charges, Blanding faced multiple robbery charges. He was involved in a series of robberies during February 2021, including an attempted carjacking where he shot a man in the leg, and several armed robberies at local stores. These additional charges included attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, first-degree kidnapping, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The community responded to the tragic deaths of Baines and Gooch with a remembrance event on February 6, 2021, near the intersection of Cushman Street and Plummer Place, where Baines was murdered. Pastors and advocates called for an end to gun violence and urged community members to come forward with any information about recent shootings in Durham. Gooch's family, including his aunt Dr. Cheryl McNair, expressed their grief and called on city leaders to take action to curb the violence in the community.
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