Darrius Pierre Lassiter, a 29-year-old African American man from Apex, North Carolina, was shot in the chest and died on December 12, 2019, in Clayton, North Carolina. The shooting occurred about 1:30 p.m. near the intersection of Durham and Hobbs streets during an argument among a group of men. After being shot, Lassiter fled in a black SUV, which crossed U.S. 70, hit a ditch, rolled into a field near a large industrial building, and then he staggered to a Speedway at the corner of U.S. 70 and Powhatan Road where he succumbed to his injuries.

Authorities arrested 18-year-old Jairus Leshon Anderson of Raleigh and charged him with homicide on the evening of December 12, 2019. A juvenile female was taken into protective custody with charges pending, and investigators were looking for a third suspect. On December 15, 2019, 39-year-old Antoine Dwayne Spates of Jacksonville was brought in for questioning and charged with murder. The investigation remains ongoing.

If anyone witnessed the argument or the vehicle’s movements on U.S. 70 that afternoon, or has information about the people involved, please come forward.