Police Department Employee Arrested For Murder After Man Wrongfully Charged, Released, Officials Say

A North Carolina employee of a police department was arrested in connection with the slaying of a man, authorities said.

Around 11:45 p.m. on Nov. 21, officers with the Durham Police Department responding to the report of a shooting at a home found 25-year-old Tyler Young suffering gunshot wounds, WRAL reported.

He was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

Police initially detained and charged a 51-year-old male suspect with Young’s murder based on an independent eyewitness identification, but they released him within 24 hours after an investigation determined another man, Marcus Keith Anthony Woods, 27, allegedly was responsible for the deadly shooting, police said.

Woods now faces a murder charge.

According to officials, Woods and the victim knew each other but declined to reveal the circumstances leading up to the shooting.

Woods worked as a procurement technician with the Durham County Police Department. WRAL reported the non-sworn civilian position entailed assisting with office supplies.