Associated Incidents
DURHAM, N.C. — ShotSpotter technology has been available for only two weeks in parts of Durham -- but didn't activate during a mass shooting over the weekend.
WRAL News spent the day looking into why the ShotSpotter didn't activate.
The shooting on North Miami Boulevard occurred within the area the ShotSpotter technology is supposed to detect gun shots.
"However, my understanding is that there wasn't a corresponding ShotSpotter report," said Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton.
Middleton says there may a good reason the gunfire detection technology did not notify police.
"If it was indeed a drive by shooting, the technology is not designed to pick up acoustical signatures from inside a vehicle or a building," he said. "And if you combine a vehicle, and moving as well, the sensors aren't really designed or attenuated to pick up those type of incidents."
Middleton explains that the technology is working as expected in this type of incident.
He says anecdotal evidence he's seen shows ShotSpotter is working, but he emphasizes that it's only one tool in the toolbox.
"I believe that we're finally putting the pieces in place where we can look our people in the eye and have the moral authority to say we are literally trying everything in our power," he said. "But there's still more work to be done."
After being reelected, Durham District Attorney Satana Deberry was sworn into office on Tuesday.
WRAL News asked her about the recent violence among young people.
"I think there are literally hundreds of people in Durham County who want to see that change," said Deberry.
Deberry points out - the District Attorney's office doesn't get involved until after a crime, but it still has a role.
"What our commitment to do is to be good community partners, making sure the most vulnerable people in our community are safe. Whether that means being involved with diversion programs so that people are not involved with the criminal justice system to begin with, and have the opportunities for school, and jobs, that’s what were committed to do," said Deberry.
WRAL News has reached out to ShotSpotter for comment but have not heard back.
Victims in the weekend's mass shooting range in age from 17 to 24. All of them are expected to survive.
Police say the drive-by shooting does not appear to be random.