Shareef Muhammad

Shareef Abdul Muhammad, a gifted athlete and devoted mentor, was a man who channeled his passion for track and field into inspiring the next generation. A 29-year-old native of Willingboro, New Jersey, Shareef had built a life in Durham, North Carolina, rooted in the sport he loved. In high school, he was a standout member of the track team, winning the Burlington County Open intermediates title in 2003 and contributing to a record-setting 1,600-meter relay team. His talent and determination earned him a spot on the track team at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham, where he competed from 2003 to 2007. At NCCU, he was known for being motivated, hardworking, and eager to learn, qualities that propelled him to earn All-American honors in the 400-meter hurdles and as part of the 4x400-meter relay team.

After graduating, Shareef remained deeply connected to his community and his sport. He became a well-liked and widely known volunteer coach with the Triangle Champions Track and Field Club in Durham. Friends and colleagues remembered his excitement for his new career and his profound desire to make a difference in the lives of the young athletes he coached. He would often sacrifice work shifts to be there for his team, pushing them to be great and not average. His former college coach and mentor, Michael Lawson, recalled stressing the importance of giving back to the community, noting that Shareef "was on the road to doing that."

The evening of Tuesday, November 11, 2014, brought that promising journey to a violent and tragic end. Around 10:30 p.m., Durham police responded to a shooting at the rental home Shareef shared with roommates in the 1300 block of Rosewood Street, just steps from the NCCU campus. According to his roommate and friend, Joshua Kalloo, two armed men wearing hoodies emerged from the bushes on the back patio, brandishing guns. They forced Kalloo back inside, where Shareef and four other roommates were ordered to lie on the floor while the intruders ransacked their rooms.

Terrified but unwilling to stand by, Shareef saw a chance to protect his friends. He jumped up and began fighting one of the gunmen. In the struggle that followed, shots rang out as both intruders opened fire. Shareef was shot six times. The gunmen fled after warning the other roommates not to move. Shaken and in shock, his friends prayed over him and called for help, but it was too late. Shareef Muhammad, a Black man known for his courage on and off the track, was pronounced dead inside his home.

The Durham Police Department launched a homicide investigation, but the case was immediately met with challenges. Kalloo later recounted that the surviving witnesses gave police differing descriptions of the two assailants. In the days following the murder, investigators appealed to the public for information. Investigator M. Evans was assigned to the case, and the Durham CrimeStoppers line was publicized for anonymous tips.

The news of Shareef's death sent shockwaves through the tight-knit track communities in both North Carolina and New Jersey. On Friday, November 14, 2014, more than 150 people gathered to say their final farewells at his service. The following day, a candlelight vigil was held in his honor on the track at Hillside High School in Durham. His high school coach, Gerald Richardson, remembered him as a determined hard worker who understood the value of effort. "He was giving back," Richardson said, "maybe not where he began, but he was still giving back at the level where he discovered his own love of the sport."

A year after the murder, friends were still reeling from the loss and frustrated by the lack of progress in the investigation. "He was a good person," Joshua Kalloo told a reporter. "I don't understand why bad things always have to happen to good people." As of November 2015, Durham investigators stated the case was still active but declined to offer details on any potential leads. Years later, the murder of Shareef Muhammad remains unsolved. No arrests have ever been made, and justice has not been found for the beloved coach who gave so much to others. Anyone with information about the murder is asked to call the Durham Police Department or CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200.