Durham Police arrest 18 people and seize 12 firearms in response to violent crime

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) – The Durham Police Department's Organized Crime Unit arrested 18 people and seized 12 firearms last week as part of a larger operation to combat rising violent crime, the DPD said Monday.

The operation targeted Braggtown, the Glenbrook Drive and Cornwallis Road neighborhoods. Those arrested were accused of a variety of recent crimes, including murder, traffic offenses, drug trafficking and other weapons offenses. Officers also seized “significant” quantities of drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, oxycodone and MDMA.

As part of the operation, which was conducted in cooperation with the FBI and DEA, police conducted 21 traffic stops and seized $2,135.

The 18 people arrested are:

• Torico Edwards, 31, charged with aggravated possession of cocaine and resisting the execution of an official, delaying the work of or obstructing a public official;

• Zachari Taylor-Browder, 20, charged with carrying a concealed weapon, resisting, delaying or obstructing a public official;

• Tumaini Brown, 25, charged with trafficking cocaine, trafficking MDMA, possession of a weapon by a felon, possession of marijuana with intent to sell and deliver, possession of cocaine, possession of MDPV, concealed carrying of a firearm, drug paraphernalia;

• Daronta Webb, 20, charged with carrying a concealed weapon;

• Earl Revels, 20: charged with carrying a concealed weapon;

• Fuquan Curtis, 25: charged with carrying a concealed weapon;

• Alontae Lewis, 23: charged with carrying a concealed weapon;

• Monta McDougald, 18, charged with possession of a stolen firearm, concealed carrying of a weapon, possession of marijuana and resisting a public official, delaying work or obstructing a public official;

• Anthony MccCllough Jr., 19: charged with fleeing from arrest in a motor vehicle, resisting an officer, delaying or obstructing an officer;

• Ishmael McFarland, 23: charged with resisting, delaying or obstructing a public official;

• Leon Brinley, 50, warrants: driving under the influence, driving without a license, speeding, reckless driving – wanton disregard, failure to obey lights or siren;

• Zion Tiken Lunsford, 19, charged with carrying a concealed weapon;

• Chad Lawrence Allison, 37: charged with concealed carrying of a firearm, drug offense Schedule II and drug offense Schedule VI, possession of a vehicle, drug paraphernalia;

• Herman Wayne Evans, 39, charged with possession of Schedule I drugs within 1,000 feet of a park, possession of Schedule II drugs within 1,000 feet of a park, possession of Schedule II drugs, possession of Schedule VI drugs, drug paraphernalia;

• Daquan Hayes, 30, charged with carrying a concealed weapon;

• Leila Seid, 28: Charged with escape;

• Male minor, 17: charged with Pwisd Schedule II, Pwisd Schedule VI.

In addition, an arrest warrant has been issued for an 18-year-old on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy on Ridgeway Avenue in October 2023. He was a minor at the time of the murder, so his name is not being released.

On Monday, ABC11 spoke with a Durham mother who knows firsthand the pain that comes with gun violence.

“For every gun they take off the street, they save another life,” Keedrah Sidberry said.

Last July, Keedrah's daughter Destiny was shot four times on Guthrie Avenue by a family member who investigators believe was under the influence of drugs and in crisis. Destiny threw herself on top of her five-year-old cousin Khloe and one-year-old cousin Amir to protect them.

Destiny survived, as did Amir, but Khloe did not. Sidberry said it was a pain that was hard to put into words.

“It's just about having that support. From different sources, from family, from friends, from the community,” she said.

Sidberry spoke to ABC11 after the DPD's latest raid – which followed a similar operation last month that resulted in 24 arrests and 11 confiscated weapons. Sidberry said this progress gives her hope.

“It fills my heart with joy because guns are just terrible. Above all, there are just too many people who have guns when they shouldn't have them,” she said.

This all comes as Mayor Leo Williams launches a new partnership – the Bull City Future Fund – dedicated to combating violent crime involving young people in Durham. Eight of the 18 people arrested in this latest operation were 20 years old or younger.

“Every person in their home has to be prepared to do their part because you never know when your family or your friends' family is going to be affected. You just never know,” Sidberry said.

Further charges are pending.

Anyone with information about violent criminal activity in the city is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200 or go online at www.durhamcrimestoppers.org. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards of up to $2,000 for information leading to arrests in serious felony cases, and callers are never required to show identification.