Crime
15-year-old boy killed after shooting at Magnolia Pointe Apartments in Durham
A witness reported that the boy had been playing in the snow at the time of the shooting.
Durham police are conducting an investigation into a tragic shooting on Saturday that claimed the life of a 15-year-old boy, identified as AJ.
At approximately 2:40 p.m., officers responded to reports of a gunshot wound at the Magnolia Pointe Apartments, located in the 4800 block of Danube Lane.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a young boy suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
At the scene, investigators placed 20 evidence markers on the ground, indicating the extent of the crime scene.
A witness reported that the boy had been playing in the snow at the time of the shooting.
โA child should be able to play in the snow,โ said Mayor Leonardo Williams. โIโve gone from being sad to just mad as hell. Iโm deeply frustrated.โ
The incident has left the community in shock, with many residents expressing their sorrow and outrage on social media.
โItโs heartbreaking that children cannot simply be children in this town,โ one resident wrote. โPraying for this childโs family and anyone who witnessed this trauma.โ
Another community member shared, โLord, please pray for his mama and sister.โ
Mayor Williams echoed these sentiments, expressing both his frustration and his commitment to addressing the cityโs public safety challenges.
โI share the concerns of our residents,โ Mayor Williams stated. โPublic safety is being overlooked, and the systems designed to protect us are not functioning as they should. We need to adopt a proactive approach to public safety, and a key part of that is investing in our children.โ
Durham police are urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. Investigator J. Smith can be reached at 919-560-4440 ext. 29365. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by visiting durhamcrimestoppers.org or calling 919-683-1200.
The investigation is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Crime
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA โ A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple Universityโs campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple Universityโs Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
โThe loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victimโs family and loved ones.โ
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victimโs last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individualโs involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.