On May 25, 2024, at approximately 5:00 p.m., 20-year-old Durham resident Ricky Orlando Nichols Jr. was fatally shot in a drive-by incident near the intersection of Dearborn Drive and Old Oxford Road. Nichols was a passenger in a white sedan when another vehicle approached and fired multiple rounds into the passenger side. The assailant's vehicle then fled the scene.
Following the shooting, the driver of the white sedan drove to the 3600 block of Keystone Place, parked the vehicle, and fled on foot, leaving Nichols injured inside. Emergency Medical Services transported Nichols to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
After a thorough investigation, on September 19, 2024, the U.S. Marshals Task Force arrested 21-year-old Michael Elijah McCray in Richmond County in connection with Nichols' death. McCray was charged with first-degree murder and transported to the Durham County Jail, where he was held without bond. Additionally, McCray faced charges from the Cary Police Department, including one count of breaking and entering a motor vehicle with theft and three counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle.
The Durham Police Department continues to seek information regarding this case. Individuals with relevant details are encouraged to contact Investigator A. Bongarten at 919-560-4440 ext. 29529 or CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200. CrimeStoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases, and callers can remain anonymous.
