On January 27, 2023, at about 2 a.m., Durham police responded to a shooting in the 100 block of West Knox Street, near Duke Park, where 41-year-old Shakida Laquan Rivers was found with gunshot wounds and later died at a local hospital. Neighbors reported hearing multiple shots and saw vehicles speeding away from the scene; the park, a usual gathering place for families and children, became a focal point of community concern after the killing.

Authorities identified 25-year-old Durham resident Shawn Leroy Butler as a suspect. Butler, a convicted felon, was already in custody at the Durham County Jail on a federal detainer for a weapons violation, and on March 6, 2023, he was formally charged with murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in connection with Rivers’ death. Investigators have not disclosed a motive and say the inquiry is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator M. Evans at (919) 560-4440, ext. 29336, or CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200; callers can remain anonymous. Does anyone have information about activity near Duke Park that night or saw vehicles leaving the area?