Durham, North Carolina

From the Durham News & Observer of December 30, 2006

Teen shot to death in Durham house

A 17-year-old was shot to death late Friday after apparently intruding in a house on Wabash Street.

Officers were called to 1420 Wabash St. at 10:30 p.m. and found 17-year-old Bennie M. Vanhook, who had been shot in the abdomen, Durham police said. Vanhook, who lived on Bluestone Drive, was taken to Duke University Hospital, where he died early today.

The resident at the Wabash Street address, 28-year-old Dennis Dingle Jr., told investigators that he and two females were in the house playing cards when they heard a knock on the door. Dingle told investigators he was expecting guests, so he opened the door.

Vanhook, who Dingle said had a gun, entered the house, and he and Dingle began to struggle, according to Durham police spokesman Kammie Michael. Vanhook fired one shot at Dingle, which missed, and Dingle then pulled out a handgun and shot Vanhook one time, investigators said.

Dingle and Vanhook did not know one another, Michael said. Investigators think the incident may have been a robbery attempt.

Dingle was charged with possession of cocaine. No charges have been filed in the shooting, which investigators said appears to have been justifiable self-defense, based on the preliminary investigation.

Both weapons were recovered at the scene.