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Durham man killed in hit-and-run; suspect had been deported twice, ICE says
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Summary
A 61-year-old Durham resident, Richard Ferguson Jr., was struck and killed on Chalk Level Road. Authorities charged 30-year-old Wilmer Mejia with hit-and-run and involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors said he had been deported twice and ICE confirmed he is in the country illegally.
A 61-year-old Durham man, identified by family as Richard Ferguson Jr., died after being struck in a hit-and-run on Chalk Level Road, police said. Authorities charged 30-year-old Wilmer Mejia with hit-and-run and involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors said Mejia has been deported twice and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed he is in the country illegally.
Family members told WRAL they felt the system had failed them. "My brother was a wonderful person," one sibling said. Two of Ferguson Jr.'s 11 surviving siblings described him as loving and hardworking and said he had worked for 26 years at the Durham Housing Authority.
Police told WRAL Mejia ran off the road, struck two signs and then struck Ferguson Jr. WRAL reported that Mejia appeared in court by video; the prosecutor said he had been deported twice, and ICE confirmed his immigration status to reporters.
Court records shown to the station indicate Mejia had a DWI charge in Wake County in 2020; the records say he was released without bond and did not return for a subsequent court date. "If they had never got out on bond, my brother would be alive today," a family member said after the court appearance.
Weighing that history, a Durham judge set Mejia's bond at $5,000,000. After court, family members expressed relief and faith, saying they hope Mejia will remain behind bars as the case proceeds.
The case is pending. Police and prosecutors have filed charges and court proceedings are expected to continue as investigators and local authorities pursue the matter.
