New Year’s Day Turns Deadly: Innocent Man Killed, Child Injured in Winston-Salem Mass Shooting
A tragic start to the new year left a Winston-Salem neighborhood shattered when a peaceful celebration turned into a nightmare. On the night of January 1, 2025, gunfire erupted in the 1700 block of Peachtree Street, forever changing the lives of a family simply gathered in their home. Police reports reveal that 34-year-old Terros Drayton opened fire into a residence where seven unsuspecting individuals were gathered, including innocent children. The horrifying attack left 54-year-old John Derriman Richards dead at the scene and a young child wounded with non-life-threatening injuries.
This senseless act of violence has rocked the community, leaving residents grief-stricken and afraid. The brutal loss of Richards, remembered as a loving friend and caring family member, underscores the tragic cost of gun violence. The sounds of celebration were replaced with the chilling echoes of bullets and heartbreak as law enforcement quickly launched a manhunt to bring those responsible to justice.
Wave of Arrests: Three Suspects Captured in Cold-Blooded Murder Case
In the months following the heartbreaking shooting, Winston-Salem Police, alongside federal authorities, made significant arrests connected to the case. The first suspect, Terros Drayton, now faces multiple charges, including murder, discharging a weapon into an occupied property, and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. The heinous nature of the crime has left prosecutors and community leaders calling for the maximum penalty under the law.
The hunt expanded across state lines, and on July 11, Henry Smith, 28, was tracked down in Florida through the efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service and Florida Highway Patrol. Smith is charged with felony murder and several other violent felonies linked to the terrifying incident. He is currently awaiting extradition back to North Carolina, where justice awaits. The latest development came on Thursday when 31-year-old Clarence Graham III was arrested in McLeansville. Graham, also charged with murder and multiple counts of aggravated assault, remains in the Forsyth County Detention Center without bond.
A Community in Mourning: Demanding Justice for John Richards and the Innocent Victims
As the investigation unfolds, the Winston-Salem community remains gripped by sorrow and anger. Friends and family of John Derriman Richards mourn the loss of a beloved soul who was taken far too soon in a cowardly act of violence. The child who was injured, though physically recovering, carries the emotional scars of that terrifying night. Many in the community are speaking out, demanding justice and calling for an end to senseless gun violence that continues to plague neighborhoods across America.
Law enforcement is urging anyone with additional information to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation. Tipsters can call the Winston-Salem Police Department or Crime Stoppers to help ensure every individual involved in this brutal crime is held accountable. As the city remembers John Richards, they vow to fight for peace and safer streets in his memory.
Rest in peace, John Derriman Richards. May your memory inspire change.
