Bertin Vasquez Mendoza, a 26-year-old male, tragically lost his life on January 1, 2019, in Durham, North Carolina. The incident occurred in the 2000 block of House Avenue, where Mendoza and another victim, 24-year-old Murilio Zurito Domingo, were found dead outside. Both men had been shot, marking the second deadly double shooting in Durham on New Year's Day.
The Durham police launched a homicide investigation into the deaths of Mendoza and Domingo.
The investigation led to the identification of two suspects. Jose Manuel Vargas-Regino, a 20-year-old male from Durham, was charged with two counts of murder in connection to the deaths of Mendoza and Domingo. However, Vargas-Regino was not in custody at the time of the report, and the police urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward.
Additionally, Jonathan Cabrera, an 18-year-old male from Durham, was charged with two counts of accessory after the fact of murder. Cabrera posted a $50,000 bond and was released from jail. The case remained an active investigation, with the police continuing to seek information from the public to aid in their efforts.
The deaths of Bertin Vasquez Mendoza and Murilio Zurito Domingo were part of a series of violent incidents that marred the New Year's celebrations in Durham. Earlier on the same day, another shooting at Alden Place Apartments resulted in the death of a man and the critical injury of a woman. The community was left reeling from the violence, and the police worked diligently to bring those responsible to justice.
