Search warrants obtained by WRAL News illustrate what led police to arrest a 23-year-old man charged in a string of shootings around southwest Raleigh.

Andrew Thomas Graney, a student at North Carolina State University, faces multiple felonies, including one count of assault with a deadly weapon and 11 counts of discharging a weapon into an occupied dwelling or vehicle, in connection to a string of shootings that occurred between Nov. 4 and Nov. 7.

The search warrants listed various items seized from the two-story home on Kentford Court in southwest Raleigh where Graney was arrested Thursday, including a digital camera, a silver laptop computer, a 0.45 caliber handgun with magazine, a black gun case with live ammunition and shell casings. The warrants also requested the search of a 2015 Hyundai Sonata registered to Graney.

The documents listed the shootings, which include multiple cars struck on Interstate 40 between Cary and Raleigh and four homes were struck by gunfire. At multiple scenes, officers found 0.45 caliber shell casings that matched the type of gun found in Graney’s home.

The warrants cite that cell phone tower data was also analyzed due to a “public safety concern,” and that data was used to help link Graney’s car to the locations where the shootings occurred. Graney, 23, was charged in connection to a multi-day string of shootings around I-40 and southwest Raleigh.

Sky 5 flew overhead Thursday and captured video as a handcuffed man, later identified as Graney, was led to a Raleigh police SUV.

Before the arrest, a WRAL News crew parked at the scene and neighbors heard at least two flash bangs, and residents were asked to stay inside their homes.

 

“I suddenly started hearing loud noises. I’m thinking I’m hearing a car wreck and something is like falling off a truck,” said Oliver Upshaw, who lives in the neighborhood.

It is unclear how police identified Graney in their search. Those in the neighborhood were left surprised when the men were taken out of the home by authorities.

“They usually kept to themselves,” said Sarah Snider, who also lives in the neighborhood. “They kind of come in and out of the house pretty quickly.”

On Friday, a spokesperson from N.C. State confirmed Graney is a senior majoring in anthropology. He has been enrolled at N.C. State since 2019.

Police connect Thursday’s shootings to others

In the series of shootings, one woman was hurt and eight vehicles and four homes were shot at. Todd Aldridge told WRAL News his truck was one of the vehicles hit on Wednesday while he was traveling on I-40.

“All of a sudden, there was a real loud pop,” he said. “It almost sounded like a gun went off inside my car.”

The latest incidents were Thursday morning on Trailwood Drive, about a mile and a half from Kentford Court where Graney was arrested.

The incident prompted North Carolina State University to issue a WolfAlert to students, as the neighborhood was nearby NC State’s Centennial Campus. Maria Smith, a student at NC State, said she was concerned with the shooting after the reported shootings along I-40 and around southwest Raleigh.

“It kind of scared me,” she said. “My parents are also coming down this weekend and they have to take I-40. I was terrified.”

Police on Thursday first said they could not connect the shootings of two vehicles on Trailwood to those earlier on the week along I-40. By late afternoon, they made the connection.

Raleigh police provide update on shootings along I-40

“Investigations are complex, they take time before we can release information,” Officer Jason Borneo said. “We have to be confident that that’s the information that we can release, and that it is certainly relevant to the investigation.”

Officers will step up patrols in the areas as the investigation continues.

“I am a Raleigh resident too, and I share your sentiments,” Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson said. “We are actively working with an incredible team of local state and federal partners who have graciously provided personnel and other resources to aid us in pursuing every lead.”

Graney is expected to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

You can see a timeline of the shootings and where they happened here.

 

The Original Article was Written By WRAL staff and can be found here.

Posted 4:40 p.m. Nov 7 – Updated 11:55 a.m. Nov 8