Teleah Janae Richmond, a 27-year-old African American woman, was found dead on February 17, 2020, in Raleigh, North Carolina. She was discovered alongside Taferious Traquail Cannady, a 24-year-old African American man, inside a car on McGuire Drive, off Perry Creek Road. Both victims had been shot to death. The discovery was made after a nearby resident reported hearing six or seven gunshots and noticed a sedan parked outside some townhouses with its running lights and brake lights on. Earlier that evening, a "sketchy" SUV had been seen in the area, repeatedly honking its horn, which contributed to the sense of a hostile situation.
Teleah Janae Richmond had a criminal history, having been charged with murder in a 2014 shooting outside a sports bar on New Hope Church Road in Raleigh. However, she pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and served only eight months in prison. Taferious Traquail Cannady's criminal record was limited to pending charges for aiding and abetting breaking and entering, resisting an officer, and possession of marijuana.
The investigation into the double homicide revealed that the neighborhood had experienced an increase in violent incidents, which residents attributed to gang activity. Community advocates expressed frustration over the surge in violence, citing a lack of opportunities and resources for youth to engage in pro-social activities as a contributing factor.
More than a year after the murders, Leronte Ahkei Williams, a 26-year-old African American man, was arrested and charged with two counts of murder in connection with the case. Williams was taken into custody and held at the Wake County Detention Center. The arrest brought some relief to the community, but the underlying issues of violence and crime in the area remained a concern for residents and advocates alike.
