Greensboro Police Seize 13 Guns in Probe That Began With Shots Fired at Empty Property

Greensboro police say a single report of gunfire at unoccupied property in early July grew into a case involving 13 seized firearms and charges against four adults and a 15-year-old. The department is treating the removal of illegal guns from city streets as a top priority.

The investigation started Wednesday, July 1, when detectives from the Violent Crime Reduction Team, known as VCRT, went to the 700 block of Greenhaven Drive to assist patrol officers. They identified a vehicle believed to have been used in the shooting and found it at a home in the 3100 block of Kilkenny Avenue. A search warrant for that residence produced six firearms.

Jacob Richmond and Ki'Shaun Hutchinson were each charged with injury to personal property, discharging a firearm within the city limits, going armed to the terror of the public and misdemeanor conspiracy. Shamontez Vinson was charged with misdemeanor conspiracy.

Detectives later determined the shooting stemmed from a robbery earlier that day in which a gun was stolen from Vinson. Police obtained surveillance video of the robbery and identified one of the suspects. On Thursday, July 2, detectives found two suspects in an apartment in the 700 block of Greenhaven Drive. Officers served another search warrant, took the suspects into custody and seized seven more firearms.

Jamonte Alston was charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon, felony conspiracy and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The 15-year-old faces charges of robbery with a dangerous weapon, felony conspiracy and possession of a handgun by a minor.

GPD created the 32-officer VCRT in June 2023 to combat firearm violence. The unit investigates shootings, illegal firearms and other violent crimes, including identifying people who illegally possess guns, handling shots-fired incidents, serving search warrants, locating violent offenders and assisting homicide detectives. It is distinct from the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team, or VCAT, which dates to 2011 and mainly finds and arrests people wanted for serious crimes. The two units often work together; in April, they located and arrested a suspect wanted in a Greensboro homicide. They have also collaborated with the Crime Gun Intelligence Center, which uses firearm evidence and shell-casing information to link guns, suspects and shootings.

GPD has reported that gun-related crime declined after VCRT was formed, but recent cases show why firearms remain a concern. On June 11, officers called to the 3500 block of Lynhaven Drive found two people shot. Sixteen-year-old Malachi Holmes died at the scene, and the other person was taken to a hospital. Police said his death was the city's 13th homicide of 2026.

Less than a week later, police announced arrests in another homicide case involving an alleged attempted armed robbery. A 15-year-old and 20-year-old Martavion Logan were charged with first-degree murder, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and felony conspiracy. Deneah Howze, 19, was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, and Latayshia Stewart, 36, with accessory after the fact. In a separate case, Mark Donovan Ray Graham, 31, was charged with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a stolen motor vehicle in the death of Douglas Keith Petty. Samantha Jean-Marie Panico, 40, was charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

Police also point residents to Gun Stoppers, launched in February 2017 as a partnership between GPD and Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers. It offers a minimum $250 reward per gun for anonymous tips that lead to an arrest or the confiscation of an illegal firearm, and tipsters need not give their names or testify. Crime Stoppers says calls are not recorded or traced, and tips through its website or app are anonymous. Rewards may also be paid when a tip leads the Guilford County Sheriff's Office to an illegal gun. Anyone with information can call 336-373-1000.

All people charged with crimes are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.