Gary Tharrington Jr., 34, died after a shooting Monday near Hoover Road Apartments.
DURHAM, NC — A Durham father was shot and killed Monday afternoon after police said he tried to break up a fight between two teenagers near Hoover Road Apartments, where a 14-year-old was later taken into custody.
Gary Tharrington Jr., 34, was taken to a hospital after the shooting and died from his injuries, Durham police said. The case has drawn grief from neighbors who described him as a devoted father and concern from residents already shaken by another shooting on the same block earlier that day.
The shooting happened around 2:15 p.m. Monday near Hoover Road Apartments on South Hoover Road, close to Angier Avenue. Police said two teens, a boy and a girl, were arguing when Tharrington stepped in. Investigators said the male teen shot Tharrington multiple times and left the area. Neighbor Shamiya Richardson said Tharrington’s children ran to her home after the gunfire. “It was shocking,” Richardson said. She said the children were scared and the violence felt especially painful because young people were involved.
Police announced Tuesday that a 14-year-old had been taken into custody in connection with Tharrington’s death. Officials did not release the teen’s name because of his age. Police said information from community members helped officers find the suspect several hours after the shooting. Investigators had not said publicly whether Tharrington knew the teen or what charges the teen faced. A witness told local reporters the teen had been involved in a heated exchange with Tharrington and his children before shots were fired. Police have not released a full account of what led to the fight.
The fatal shooting was the second reported on that block Monday. Around 12:50 a.m., officers responded to the 1100 block of South Hoover Road after a girl was shot. She was taken to a hospital with serious injuries and was later listed in serious but stable condition. Police said both shootings remained under active investigation and had not confirmed whether they were connected. The two scenes left residents watching officers, investigators and a mobile command center return to the same area within hours.
Neighbors said the shootings added to fear in a community where children often spend time outside near the apartment complex. Julie Rapplyea, who lives in the area, said she heard gunfire during both incidents Monday. “It’s just really unfortunate that all the kids that are out here at that time of night and out here when it happened,” Rapplyea said. She said the violence raised worries about children’s safety and about whether enough support was reaching families in the neighborhood.
Durham police said 12 people under 18 had been shot in the city this year as of May 30, making up about 14% of all shooting victims in 2026. Richardson said those numbers match the fear many parents feel when violence reaches places where children live and play. “It’s just a lot going on over here,” she said. Tharrington was remembered as a father with plans for the future. “Gary was just a good man,” Richardson said.
The investigation remains open. Police asked anyone with information about the fatal shooting to contact Investigator J. Turner at 919-560-4440, ext. 29532, or Durham CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200. Investigators also continued reviewing the earlier shooting on South Hoover Road as they worked to determine whether the two cases were related.
Author note: Last updated June 12, 2026.