2 minNews
Durham Police Rule Shooting of Father Breaking Into Child's Mother's Apartment as Self-Defense
A man was shot and injured Saturday morning while forcing his way into the Magnolia Pointe apartment of his child's mother in northeast Durham, authorities said. Investigators determined the gunfire was a justified act of self-defense.
A father was shot and wounded Saturday morning while trying to break into the Durham apartment of his child's mother, and police have determined the gunfire was an act of self-defense, authorities said.
Officers responded just before 9:45 a.m. to the Magnolia Pointe apartments in the 4800 block of Danube Lane, a complex just off Hebron Road in the northeast part of the city. They found the man suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He was taken for medical treatment; his condition was not immediately released.
According to the Durham Police Department, the man was attempting to force entry into the residence when he was shot. The investigation concluded that the person who fired the weapon acted in self-defense, and no charges are expected in connection with the shooting.
The episode unfolded in a residential complex on a weekend morning, a time when neighbors are typically at home. Details about what preceded the break-in attempt, including whether there had been prior contact between the man and the woman, were not disclosed by police. The identities of those involved have not been made public.
Durham police have handled a series of shooting calls at apartment communities across the city in recent weeks, including incidents on Snowcrest Trail and along Danube Lane. Each case is investigated individually, and the department has not suggested any connection between them.
Under North Carolina law, a person may use deadly force in self-defense when they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily harm. Police departments in the state routinely review such cases and, as in this instance, can decline to file charges when the evidence supports a claim of justified force.
The shooting remains under review, and police said the investigation is continuing. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Durham investigators or provide tips anonymously through local crime-stopper channels.
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