A college student in North Carolina was charged this week in connection to a string of shootings on a busy highway in the state.
The Highway Shooting Suspect
On Thursday, the Raleigh Police Department in North Carolina announced that they had arrested a 23-year-old suspect on one charge of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to kill causing serious injury, along with 11 counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle or dwelling.
Police later identified the suspect as Andrew Thomas Graney.
According to WRAL news in North Carolina, Graney is a student at North Carolina State University. A spokesperson for the college told the local news outlet that Graney is a senior and he has been enrolled since 2019. Prior to the incident, Graney was studying anthropology, WRAL reported.
“Graney was taken into custody in the 2400 block of Kentford Court with another individual. The other individual has been released with no charges,” the Raleigh Police Department said in a press release.
The String of Shootings
The series of shootings targeting cars on the busy highway and nearby homes has sparked concern in the area surrounding North Carolina’s capital. Authorities have not released any information regarding a possible motive.
The case drew attention after multiple people reported gunfire along a section of Interstate 40 in Raleigh and suburban Cary during Wednesday morning’s rush hour, according to police. Additional reports of similar shootings soon followed.
Authorities reported that eight vehicles were hit by gunfire—two on Monday, four on Wednesday and two on Thursday. Additionally, a police news release noted that four homes were also struck on Wednesday. Raleigh’s police chief confirmed Thursday that the shootings are believed to be connected.
Prior to Graney’s arrest on Thursday, police said that “a reward of up to $10,000 has been offered for information leading to the arrest of the person or person’s responsible.”
In one incident early Monday, a woman was shot in the leg while driving on I-40, police said. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Witnesses to the Shootings
While speaking with WRAL news, Todd Aldridge detailed how his vehicle was hit by one of the gunshots on the highway earlier this week.
“All of a sudden, there was a real loud pop,” Aldridge told the local news outlet. “It almost sounded like a gun went off inside my car.”
NC State student Maria Smith also spoke to WRAL and how she felt concerned following the string of shootings.
“It kind of scared me,” she told WRAL news. “My parents are also coming down this weekend and they have to take I-40. I was terrified.”
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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