Crime
William Durham Charged With Murder and Kidnapping in Fatal Shooting of USPS Employee Brandi Reynolds in Wilkes County
HAYS, N.C. — A Wilkes County man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping following the fatal shooting of a U.S. Postal Service employee Friday afternoon in the Hays community, according to the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities identified the victim as Brandi Byrd Reynolds, who was pronounced dead at the scene after being shot while inside a vehicle.
The suspect, William Craig Durham, 56, of Roaring River, is being held without bond at the Wilkes County Jail.
According to the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched at approximately 4:00 p.m. on June 26 to a residence in the 300 block of Monteith Acres Road in Hays after receiving a 911 call reporting that a woman had been shot.
When deputies arrived, they found Reynolds suffering from fatal gunshot wounds inside a vehicle. Despite emergency response efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators determined that Durham allegedly kidnapped Reynolds before she was fatally shot, leading authorities to charge him with both first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.
Officials said the kidnapping charge alleges that Reynolds was abducted and seriously injured before her death.
During the investigation, witnesses reported seeing a gray Nissan Altima connected to the incident. Authorities also said the suspect allegedly displayed a firearm and threatened a woman during the events leading up to the fatal shooting.
Investigators further confirmed that a U.S. Postal Service vehicle was involved in the incident, and several nearby residents reported hearing multiple gunshots before law enforcement arrived.
Following the investigation, deputies arrested Durham and transported him to the Wilkes County Jail, where he remains held without bond.
According to court records, Durham is scheduled to make his first court appearance on June 29.
The Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the fatal shooting and has not released additional details regarding the motive or the relationship between Durham and Reynolds.
Authorities said additional information will be released as the investigation progresses and court proceedings continue.
The case remains an active homicide investigation.
Crime
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.