🌳 Durham Shooting Deaths Doubled in Q1
TL;DR — 3 Things to Know This Week
- Durham's deadly shootings doubled to 10 in the first quarter of 2026, with overall homicides up 44.4% and non-fatal shooting victims up 57.7%, all while the city has no permanent police chief.
- City Council voted 6-1 to approve a $16 million, eight-year contract with Axon Enterprises for police drones, in-car cameras, and a video-unification platform, over objections that it revives surveillance concerns the council recently rejected.
- American Underground is opening a new 40,000-square-foot coworking space at American Tobacco Campus on Wednesday, consolidating its scattered headquarters into one connected hub for more than 275 companies.
Durham Shooting Deaths Doubled in the First Quarter of 2026
Deadly shootings, non-fatal injuries, rape investigations, and aggravated assaults all climbed together in Q1 2026, and Durham still has no permanent police chief to lead the response.
- Deadly shootings rose from five to ten in the first three months of 2026 compared to the same period last year. Overall homicides climbed 44.4%, and 41 people suffered gunshot wounds between January and March, up 57.7% from 26.
- The surge wasn't limited to shootings. Rape investigations rose 26.5%, from 34 to 43 cases, and aggravated assaults climbed 14.8%. Robbery was the one category that fell, dropping 26.2%.
- Mayor Leonardo Williams has made public safety central to his agenda, saying the victims 'look like me' and calling for unified community action. Chief Patrice Andrews stepped down in April; Deputy Chief Walter Tate is serving as interim while the city searches for a permanent replacement.
- City Council was scheduled to review the full crime report in a work session Thursday.
What to watch: The June 15 budget adoption vote is the next concrete pressure point. Dozens of speakers at Monday's public hearing urged the council to fund violence-interruption programs.
Council Approves $16M Axon Contract for Drones and Unified Video Feeds
A 6-1 vote Monday puts police drones, 100 in-car cameras, and a platform that unifies live video feeds and officer GPS on a single map into the hands of Durham Police, over two hours of public opposition.
- The eight-year contract with Axon Enterprises covers six drone-as-first-responder units, full in-car camera fleet coverage, and the Fusus platform. It also adds auto-transcriptions for audio evidence and unlimited cloud storage on Axon's servers.
- Opponents drew direct comparisons to Durham's recent rejections of ShotSpotter, a Peregrine Technologies contract, and a proposed real-time data center, arguing the Axon deal reintroduces the same concerns under a different name. Several speakers urged redirecting the $16 million to youth programs and housing instead.
- Supporters, including Floyd McKissick of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, argued the technology is needed to reduce gun violence in Black and brown neighborhoods. Councilwoman Shanetta Burris cited a drive-by shooting scene she visited on East Main Street. Councilman Nate Baker cast the lone no vote.
Why it matters: The vote reverses Durham's recent pattern of rejecting police surveillance tools and sets terms for how the city's expanded drone and camera program will operate for the next eight years.
Civic
Durham City Council Approves Axon Contract and a $115K East Durham Incentive
Monday's regular meeting covered surveillance tech, a contested economic development grant, a homelessness framework through 2031, and a second round of public testimony on the FY2026-27 budget.
- Council voted 6-1 to approve the Axon contract renewal, with residents packing chambers to oppose expanded drone and Fusus platform services over ICE data-sharing risks and predictive policing concerns.
- A 4-3 vote granted $115,000 to Coco Fro LLC, a Black-owned business planning a production facility and tasting room at 1004 Morning Glory Avenue in East Durham, leveraging $593,000 in private investment.
- Council adopted a homelessness strategic framework targeting rare and brief homelessness by 2031. Public commenters raised concerns about the $13 million cost and the absence of any encampment sweep policy.
- Dozens of speakers testified at a second FY2026-27 budget public hearing, pushing for violence-interruption programs and immigrant legal services ahead of the June 15 adoption vote.
What to watch: The FY2026-27 budget vote is scheduled for June 15. Council's decisions on violence-interruption funding and immigrant services will be the clearest test of how Monday's public testimony landed.
Quick Hits
- Raleigh developer Beacon Street plans a 34-unit luxury condo tower across from Historic Durham Athletic Park, with units priced up to $2 million, joining a Durham market that has already recorded a $5 million and a $6 million condo sale in the past six months.
- Andia's Ice Cream opened a scoop shop inside Nanny Goat Market at 620 Foster St., one block from Durham Central Park, serving 11 daily-rotating flavors Thursday through Sunday.
- RDU awarded Balfour Beatty a $400 million contract to reconstruct Runway 5L/23R, one of the airport's primary commercial runways, stacking a second major construction award alongside the $775 million Terminal 2 expansion already underway.
- American Underground opens its new 40,000-square-foot headquarters at American Tobacco Campus on Wednesday, consolidating offices previously scattered across several floors into one space with a botanical library, podcasting studio, and coffee bar; regular programming starts June 18.
- Kristine Suh plans to open Dosirak, a Korean convenience store, at 307 W. Main St. next month, offering to-go meals, Korean ingredients, and a wall of Ramyun noodles customers can cook on-site.
Events
Major Taylor International Cycling Convention
Thu, June 4 · Durham Convention Center Plaza
Sam Barber
Thu, June 4 · Red Hat Amphitheater
Bayside w/ Adjust the Sails
Fri, June 5 · Cat's Cradle
CLUB SLAYYY : SLAYYYTER + HYPERPOP NIGHT
Fri, June 5 · Motorco Music Hall
Durham Refugee Day Film Screening
Fri, June 5 · Durham County Library
22nd Annual Beaver Queen Pageant
Sat, June 6 · Duke Park Meadow
Boxyard Birthday: Celebrating 5 Years
Sat, June 6 · Boxyard RTP
Larry & Joe
Sat, June 6 · Carolina Theatre
Paddington Screening w/ Marmalade Making
Sat, June 6 · Durham County Library
SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS
Sat, June 6 · Motorco Music Hall
"For You From Deb B Vu" Film Screening
Tue, June 9 · Durham County Library
AfterHours: Science Distilled
Thu, June 11 · Museum of Life and Science
Spotlight
Each week we highlight a Durham small business, nonprofit, or community spot we love.
SEEDS
This Gilbert Street nonprofit has tended a two-acre urban garden and kitchen classroom in central Durham for about 30 years. Youth programs include a summer camp and a high school internship that connect young Durhamites to food and growing. What we love: the public garden stays open Tuesday through Friday, so anyone can stop in and see what's growing.
Real Estate
105 W Knox St
$1,450,000 · 7 bed, 7 bath, 6,044 sqft
924 Green St
$1,100,000 · 3 bed, 3 bath, 2,867 sqft
Downtown listing with a compact footprint and low-maintenance angle.
60 Kimberly Dr
$1,370,000 · 5 bed, 5 bath, 3,493 sqft
A wildcard pick with a different angle than the trophy homes.