Gary Tharrington Jr., 34, was shot and killed on Monday afternoon, June 8, 2026, at about 2:15 p.m. at the Hoover Road Apartments in East Durham. Officers responding to reports of gunfire found him with multiple gunshot wounds in the 1100 block of South Hoover Road; he was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead later that day.

Family and witness accounts say the shooting began with a dispute between Tharrington’s 14-year-old stepson and his teenage daughter, reportedly over a shirt. Tharrington stepped in to try to break up the argument, and the 14-year-old allegedly produced a firearm and shot him. The teenager fled but was located and taken into custody several hours later; because he is a juvenile, his name has not been released. The Durham Police Department says the investigation is ongoing.

This is a case of family violence that left a community and a family reeling. Anyone who was at the Hoover Road Apartments that afternoon or who has information that could help investigators is asked to come forward.