Durham: Rocky Mount councilman charged with bringing a gun onto NCCU campus

In Durham, a Rocky Mount city councilman is facing felony and misdemeanor gun charges after authorities say he brought a pistol onto North Carolina Central University's campus during homecoming.

Timothy Jerome "T.J." Walker Jr., 34, who represents Ward 4 on the Rocky Mount City Council, was arrested Saturday, Oct. 10, by N.C. Central University Campus Police, according to a magistrate's order and N.C. District Court records cited by WITN, the Spring Hope Enterprise and the Rocky Mount Telegram. He was taken to the Durham County Detention Facility.

Being charged with a crime does not mean a person is guilty. Walker is presumed innocent unless he is proven guilty in court. We could not find any public statement from Walker or from a lawyer for him.

What court records allege

According to a magistrate's order obtained by the Spring Hope Enterprise, officers allege that Walker "unlawfully, willfully and feloniously did knowingly possess a pistol ... Black Glock 23 Gen 5 ... on educational property, NCCU campus." The felony charge cites North Carolina General Statute 14-269.2(b).

Court documents also charge him with a misdemeanor count of carrying a concealed gun, WITN and the Rocky Mount Telegram reported. Documents say he had the pistol on campus and off his own premises.

Court records indicate Walker has no prior criminal record and was on campus for homecoming festivities, the Enterprise reported. A secured bond was set at $10,000 and was posted. The terms of his release say he cannot return to the NCCU campus unless otherwise instructed by the university's police chief, according to court records cited by the Rocky Mount Telegram.

The charges

Court records list two charges:

• Possessing a gun or other weapon on educational property (felony)
• Carrying a concealed gun (misdemeanor)

Under North Carolina law, knowingly possessing or carrying a firearm on educational property — including a college or university campus — is generally a Class I felony, whether the gun is carried openly or concealed. Carrying a concealed pistol or gun off one's own premises, outside the exceptions in state law, is generally a Class 2 misdemeanor for a first offense.

Officials have not said whether the gun was ever displayed or used, or how campus police came to stop Walker.

What Rocky Mount said

WRAL News contacted the City of Rocky Mount, which issued this statement:

"The City of Rocky Mount is aware of Councilman T.J. Walker Jr.’s arrest. The City does not comment on pending legal proceedings involving individual elected officials. The matter will be addressed through the appropriate judicial process. The City remains focused on carrying out municipal operations and serving the residents of Rocky Mount."

Who Walker is

The city's official directory lists Walker's current Ward 4 term as 2023 to 2027. City bios say he holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from N.C. Central and works as a community engagement coordinator and assistant pastor. The Rocky Mount Telegram reported that he is an NCCU alumnus and was first elected to the council in 2019, then re-elected in 2023.

We are not publishing a residential street address.

Campus gun ban

North Carolina's weapons-on-campus statute, G.S. 14-269.2, generally makes it a felony to knowingly possess or carry a firearm on educational property or at a school-sponsored activity. The ban covers public and private schools, community colleges, colleges and universities. Limited exceptions exist — for example, certain locked-vehicle situations and authorized personnel — but the law is designed to keep guns off campuses even during large public events such as homecoming.

What happens next

Walker is scheduled to appear in Durham County District Court on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 8:45 a.m., according to court scheduling reported by WRAL. Officials have not said whether he has a lawyer.

We will update this story after his court appearance or when investigators or the court release more information. Text-only; we did not find an official agency photo release we can use.