On the night of March 21, 2023, in Durham, North Carolina, 16-year-old Angel Caneles Quintana was fatally shot near the intersection of Hudson Avenue and North Buchanan Boulevard. A student at Riverside High School, Angel was one of two teenagers who lost their lives in this tragic incident; the other was 16-year-old Osmar Burgos Banegas, a student at Lakeview School.
A third 16-year-old male sustained life-threatening injuries but was reported to be in stable condition following medical treatment.
The Durham Police Department responded to reports of a shooting around 10:30 p.m. on March 21. Upon arrival, they found the injured 16-year-old, who informed them of the possibility of additional victims. An extensive search ensued, utilizing drones and a cadaver dog, which led to the discovery of Angel and Osmar's bodies shortly after 8 a.m. on March 22. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Later that day, authorities arrested 18-year-old Jorge Raul Benitez-Mendoza in connection with the shootings. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder. Benitez-Mendoza, who had no prior criminal history, was booked into the Durham County Detention Facility without bond. The preliminary investigation suggested that the shootings were not random; however, the exact nature of the relationship between Benitez-Mendoza and the victims remains unclear. Family members of the victims indicated that the teenagers were friends.
This incident contributed to a concerning rise in youth violence within the Durham community. By that time in 2023, 13 juveniles had been shot in the city, with this case marking the 13th homicide of the year. Community leaders and organizations expressed deep sorrow and outrage, calling for increased investment in mental health resources, mentorship programs, and stricter gun control measures to prevent further tragedies. The deaths of Angel and Osmar underscored the urgent need for collective action to address the factors contributing to youth violence in the area.
