On September 6, 2023, at about 12:20 p.m. officers responded to a shooting in the 3000 block of East Weaver Street in Durham, North Carolina. Two women were found with gunshot wounds. Tonya Yvette Richardson, 45, was taken to a local hospital and died of her injuries; a second woman suffered non-life-threatening wounds and was treated. Police described the incident as appearing isolated. No arrests or public suspect identifications have been announced and the investigation remains active.

Tonya, known as Ma Bear, was born June 9, 1978, in Durham. She loved singing, dancing, cooking and spending time with family and friends, and she leaves seven children. A visitation and funeral service were held September 22, 2023, at Antioch Baptist Church; her daughter Delasie Samuel started a GoFundMe called Tonya’s world to help with funeral costs.

Does anyone in the East Weaver Street area that day have information that could help investigators? Contact Investigator K. Foley at (919) 560-4440 ext. 29521 or CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200.