In the town of Graham, North Carolina, a late-night call shattered the stillness on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. At approximately 11 p.m., the piercing sound of gunfire echoed through the 400 block of Poplar Street, prompting a swift response from the Graham Police Department. What officers discovered upon arrival was a scene of heartbreak—a 34-year-old man, Thomas Jeffries Jr., lay critically wounded, his life slipping away from a gunshot to the stomach. Despite the desperate efforts of first responders, Jeffries succumbed to his injuries, leaving a community in shock and a family in mourning.

As the investigation unfolded, authorities zeroed in on 59-year-old James Thomas Daye, a man now at the center of this tragedy. Identified as Jeffries’ stepfather, Daye was arrested at the scene without resistance, a 12-gauge shotgun allegedly in his possession. The weight of the moment was palpable as police charged him with murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a charge compounded by Daye’s extensive criminal history. Court records reveal a past marked by numerous convictions over the past 35 years, including felonies such as the sale and delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance in Durham County in 2006. Now, Daye sits in the Alamance County Jail, held without bond, awaiting his first court appearance scheduled for Thursday, August 21, at 2:00 p.m. in Alamance County District Court.

The Graham Police Department has described the shooting as the devastating result of a family dispute, though the precise spark that ignited this fatal confrontation remains undisclosed. What is clear, however, is the profound loss felt by those who knew Thomas Jeffries Jr. The incident, police assure, is isolated, posing no further threat to the broader community. Yet, for those touched by this tragedy, the sense of safety in their close-knit town may feel forever altered.

As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward, offering a lifeline to help piece together the events of that fateful night. The Graham Police Department can be reached at (336) 570-6711, a call that could bring clarity to a grieving community seeking answers. In the wake of this heartrending event, Graham stands united, grappling with the fragility of life and the ripple effects of a single, irreversible moment.