The Winston-Salem Police Department has arrested a third suspect in connection with a fatal New Year’s Day shooting that left one man dead and a child injured, according to local authorities. Clarence Curtis Graham III, 31, was taken into custody in McLeansville on Thursday, July 17, 2025, according to reporting from WGHP.
Arrest Details and Charges in the Winston-Salem Homicide
According to the Winston-Salem Police Department, officers responded to a reported shooting on Jan. 1 at approximately 11:20 p.m. in the 1700 block of Peachtree Street. First responders found 54-year-old John Derriman Richards fatally shot inside the home. A child inside the residence was also struck by gunfire and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators determined that two other adults and three other children were present inside the home during the incident and remained unharmed. Following the ongoing investigation, authorities apprehended Graham in McLeansville on July 17, 2025. WGHP reported that Graham faces multiple felony charges:
- Felony murder
- Assault with the intent to kill or inflict serious injury
- Discharging a weapon into an occupied property
- Discharging a weapon into an occupied property inflicting serious bodily injury
Graham is currently being held without bond at the Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center.
Ongoing Investigation Into the January Shooting
The Winston-Salem Police Department maintains that the investigation remains active as authorities work to piece together the events of New Year’s Day. Law enforcement has not yet released details regarding a potential motive or the specific relationship between the suspects and the victims inside the Peachtree Street home. Anyone with information concerning the case is encouraged to contact the Winston-Salem Police Department.
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