Durham: Harris Teeter guard Abellard Pierre charged with assault; Leander Williams charged with robbery

Durham police have charged both men involved in the Oct. 11 shooting at a Harris Teeter on N.C. Highway 54: the security guard who fired and the suspected shoplifter he shot.

Security guard Abellard Pierre, 35, is charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, the Durham Police Department announced Friday, Oct. 16, according to The News & Observer and CBS 17. Leander Williams, 33, the man Pierre shot, is charged with common law robbery.

As of Friday afternoon, online court records did not yet show either man's charges, the N&O reported. Police have not released court dates.

Charges are accusations. Everyone charged is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. We have not found a public statement from either man or from a lawyer for either of them.

The department's account

Police say Pierre approached Williams, who was suspected of shoplifting, and a struggle followed. Pierre then shot Williams. Both men were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

That is the department's account of an open investigation. Police have not said how the struggle began, how many shots were fired, or what they say Williams took.

Background

Officers responded about 7:39 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, to a larceny report at the Harris Teeter in the 200 block of West N.C. Highway 54, the department said in its first release, reported by CBS 17. The store is less than a mile from The Streets at Southpoint, the N&O reported.

As of Monday, Oct. 12, the department said no charges had been filed, and neither man had been identified. A Harris Teeter spokesperson told CBS 17 then: "As this remains an active police matter, we are directing all questions to the Durham Police Department."

Timeline

• Sunday, Oct. 11, about 7:39 p.m.: Officers respond to a larceny report at the store. A security guard shoots a man after a struggle, and both men go to a hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening (Durham police, via CBS 17).
• Monday, Oct. 12: No charges have been filed and neither man has been identified (Durham police, via CBS 17).
• Friday, Oct. 16: Police identify Pierre and Williams and announce charges against both (Durham police, via The News & Observer and CBS 17).

What we don't know yet

Police have not released court dates for either man, and we have not seen whether either has been booked into jail or released. Police have not said what Williams is accused of taking, how the struggle began, or how many shots were fired. The investigation is ongoing.

A CBS 17 report syndicated by FOX8 gave the time of the shooting as about 7:40 a.m. Sunday. The department's first release, as reported by CBS 17, said about 7:39 p.m., and the N&O said Sunday night. We are using 7:39 p.m.

What happens next

Anyone with information can call Durham CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200. We will update this story as Durham police or the courts release more. This story is not an official or emergency notice. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Photos

Text-only. We did not find an official agency-released photo we can use under Triangle Local rules. No street number is published.