Durham, N.C. — A quiet Sunday night in the 3500 block of Hillsborough Road turned into tragedy when 30-year-old Irease Jeffrey, known to friends as “Billy,” was killed in a drive-by shooting near the Wendy’s parking lot. The woman riding with him was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening wounds as police scrambled to piece together what happened.
Just after 9 p.m., Jeffrey was driving a 2024 Chevy Malibu westbound with a woman in the passenger seat when another vehicle pulled alongside and someone inside opened fire. Bullets struck both occupants, sending their car veering off the road into a nearby parking area.
Emergency crews arrived within minutes. Jeffrey was still alive when paramedics reached him, but he did not survive the severity of his injuries and was pronounced dead at a local hospital. His loss has left family members in shock, struggling with how suddenly a night out could turn so deadly.
The woman in the car, whose name has not been released, was also hit by gunfire and taken to the hospital in critical condition. Police described her injuries as life-threatening but have not provided updates on her condition since. Loved ones and neighbors are praying for her recovery as the investigation continues.
Durham police say they have no suspects yet, and they have not revealed any clear motive or connection between the shooter and the victims. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage and talking to witnesses, but so far the case remains unsolved. Officers are urging anyone with information to call CrimeStoppers or the Durham Police.
This shooting adds to a string of gun violence cases in Durham that residents have been grappling with, even as overall violent crime saw mixed trends in recent months. Community members say the randomness of the attack has left people on edge, especially in areas they once considered safe.
Friends remember Billy as a warm, easy-going person whose life was cut tragically short. They say he wasn’t looking for trouble on that drive; he was simply heading home when violence found him instead. As Durham mourns, many are left asking how something like this could happen so close to homes and businesses.
