On December 3, 2023, at approximately 6 a.m., Durham Police Department officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert in the 600 block of Troy Street, near Durham Technical Community College. Upon arrival, they discovered 65-year-old Darryl "Keith" Harris suffering from a gunshot wound. Harris was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Following an investigation, on December 8, 2023, police arrested 44-year-old James Edward Lyons in connection with Harris's death.
Lyons was charged with murder and booked into the Durham County Jail without bond. He appeared before a judge on December 11, 2023, and was denied bail. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting remains ongoing.
A funeral service for Darryl "Keith" Harris was held on December 19, 2023, at Russell Memorial CME Church in Durham. The service included a visitation from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., followed by the funeral at 1:00 p.m. Harris's death has contributed to a rising number of homicides in Durham for the year 2023, with the city approaching its record of 50 homicides set in 2021. As of late November 2023, there had been 45 reported homicides, compared to 40 by the same date in the previous year.
The Durham Police Department continues to investigate the incident and urges anyone with information to contact Investigator J.D. Harris at 919-560-4440 ext. 29120 or CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200. Community members are encouraged to come forward with any details that may assist in the ongoing investigation.
