WRAL Doc Podcast

In this final companion episode to the WRAL Doc “Durham Under Fire,” WRAL Investigative Documentary Reporter Cristin Severance talks with Durham Mayor Elaine O’Neal, Council Member Mark-Anthony Middleton, District Attorney Satana Deberry, and former sheriff Mike Andrews. They explore the impact gun violence in a city that is described as both “ascendant” and “violent” -- and share their ideas on how the Bull City can rise … for all.

Z’Yon Person was killed by gunshots on his way to get a snow cone. He was nine years old. As Durham continues to grapple with gun violence, WRAL investigative documentary reporter Cristin Severance talks with Z’Yon’s grandmother about his life, his death and the trauma his family experienced – and continues to experience – as soon as those shots came through their vehicle window. Also, a community activist talks about the children in her community and how they’ve been changed and traumatized by the gun violence that’s become routine in their neighborhood.

As Durham grapples with increased gun violence, WRAL investigative reporter Cristin Severance rides along on patrol with two Durham police officers who grew up there. With candor, they describe how shootings in Durham have impacted them personally, why they’re so committed to their work, and how they try to disrupt cycles of violence. 

Join WRAL Investigative Reporter Cristin Severance as she rides along in a patrol car with Durham, NC’s Chief of Police Patrice Andrews. While discussing the immense pressures facing the Durham Police Department, a “shots fired” report comes over the patrol car radio. Follow the chief on the intense ride to the crime scene, and find out why she’s frustrated by gun violence in Durham, but not deterred. 

Six years ago, Jim Gray and Sandy Tabor-Gray lost their son, Michael, to a heroin overdose. His death was as devastating as you’d imagine, made all the more so because Michael left behind two small children, twins, too young to understand what happened to their dad. With the twins’ mother out of the picture, Jim and Sandy reentered the world of young-kid parenthood, something they never expected to do this late in life. In stories of addiction, much as with any disease, we often talk about prevention, or the shock and tragedy of someone's death. We fade to black at the funeral, roll credits. But this is a story of the aftermath, about those left to live on once the unthinkable has happened. And about how Jim and Sandy responded when the twins began asking difficult questions about their dad, his death, and all that came before.

All season the WRAL Doc Podcast has explored Wicked Weather - telling stories of some of the fiercest storms ever to strike North Carolina. But as the season wraps up, it's worth diverting our eyes from the past to look toward the future.

Throughout this season, the WRAL Doc Podcast has talked about the destruction that follows Wicked Weather and the impact a single storm can have. But what happens when it isn't just one storm, but two separate weather events mere weeks apart, setting the stage for unprecedented destruction?

For many, when you say the word "Hurricane," Fran is what comes to mind.