Erika Desiree Downey, a 25-year-old woman from Durham, North Carolina, was tragically shot to death on September 19, 2016. The incident occurred early in the morning at the Lynnhaven Apartments on Wadesboro Street. Erika's parents, Wanda and Larry Downey, were devastated by the news and expressed their confusion and heartbreak over why someone would kill their beloved daughter. Erika was described as a kind and caring individual who went out of her way to help others.
Her parents received a frantic phone call from Erika's girlfriend, who was screaming and crying, informing them that Erika had been shot and was not breathing.
The suspect in Erika's murder was identified as Larico Fonyte Dunn, a 24-year-old man from Durham. Dunn was arrested later that evening during a traffic stop on Interstate 85 in Granville County. He was charged with murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. Dunn was also wanted on charges from a previous domestic incident involving Erika on August 11, which included assault on a female, assault by strangulation, misdemeanor larceny, and injury to personal property.
The investigation revealed that Erika had been dating Dunn, and the shooting was not a random act. Another woman, Todra Thornton, 24, was also injured in the shooting, suffering a graze wound. Thornton confirmed that Erika had been dating the man who killed her. The police released the 911 call from the incident, which captured the frantic pleas for help from Erika's girlfriend, who was also injured in the shooting.
Erika's father, Larry Downey, expressed his anger and disbelief over the situation, questioning why Dunn would kill his daughter if he no longer wanted to be with her. Larry had never liked Dunn and had tried to convince Erika to leave him. The family and community were left mourning the loss of Erika, a young woman who had touched the lives of many with her kindness and generosity.
