By Robert Jordan
Dunn Daily Record
DUNN – Dunn police apprehended a man accused of murder in a shooting that killed one woman and injured two others at a recent Angier-area house party. Officers snapped on the cuffs after a car chase, foot chase and quick manhunt ended on East Townsend Street Friday afternoon.
The Harnett County Sheriff’s Office took Darien Wellington Gayle, 23, of 400 E. Townsend St., into custody at 3:25 p.m.
Online court records show Gayle is charged with one count each of murder, possessing a firearm as a felon, fleeing to elude arrest in a motor vehicle and driving with a revoked license. He also faces 14 counts of shooting into occupied property and two counts each of attempted murder and committing assaults with a deadly weapon and an intent to kill that led to serious injuries.
The charges stem from a shooting at a house party on Sundowner Lane early Sunday morning, March 17. Nineteen-year-old Ashanti Monk, of Angier, was killed in the shooting. Twenty-one-year-old Zaylen Dowd, of Fuquay-Varina, and 19-year-old Chassidy McDougald, of Dunn, were seriously wounded. All three were at a party with more than 100 people when the shots rang out around 1:47 a.m.
Several Harnett County deputies came to Dunn Friday morning and began a coordinated search for Gayle in the Townsend Street area, according to monitored radio traffic.
Sometime prior to the 3:25 p.m. arrest, deputies reportedly located Gayle in the company of an unidentified man as Gayle drove through the city in a dark colored four-door sedan. Deputies chased the car through the streets of Dunn until it came to a stop on East McNeill Circle.
Gayle and the other man reportedly jumped from the car and fled on foot. Deputies asked for backup from the Dunn Police Department.
Police Capt. Matthew Smith and Lt. Apelles Hart responded and located Gayle inside a bathroom at the Good News Mission located at 310 E. Townsend St. The other passenger from the car was reportedly found under some steps beside the church. That man was questioned and released by deputies.
Erwin Police Department Lt. Joey Ennis and investigator and K-9 handler Cody Norris responded with K-9 Clint to assist in the investigation.
“We are happy to have been able to assist the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office in the location and apprehension of this homicide suspect,” said Dunn Chief of Police Cary Jackson. “Cooperation between agencies allows for better protection of the public.”
Erwin Chief of Police Jonathan Johnson echoed Jackson’s comments. “Working together always yields better results as we work to get violent offenders in custody as quickly as possible,” he said.
HCSO Maj. Aaron Meredith says the investigation continues. Gayle was being held in the Harnett County Detention Center on Monday.
Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Division at 910-893-0140 or the department’s tip line at 910-893-0300. The P3 App at P3TIPS.com can also be used to submit secure and anonymous tips.
This is one POS that never need to see the light of day again. As a matter of fact this looser needs the death penalty. He is a animal. His hair also looks like a mushroom.
Where’s all the people screaming “free him” like normal? Smh
A Citizen, I was waiting for the negative feedback.