RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The Raleigh Police Department announced overnight Friday that they arrested and charged a man in connection to the series of shootings on and near Interstate 40 in Raleigh this week.

Andrew Thomas Graney, 23 of Raleigh, was taken into custody Thursday evening and charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and 11 counts of firing a weapon into an occupied vehicle or dwelling.

According to an official from NC State University, Graney is currently a senior majoring in anthropology who has been enrolled since Fall 2019.

In his first court appearance just after 3 p.m. Friday, a judge ruled that Graney will continue to be held in custody without bond. Before that ruling was made, the state requested no bond for Graney and his own court-appointed attorney left it up to the discretion of the judge.

The judge commented on the case, saying it’s one that “put fear in the heart of the entire community” as it continued on during a span of four days.

According to the court documents released so far, Graney “unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did discharge a firearm — a Llama .45 Max 1 handgun” into eight vehicles and four homes. One of the shootings into a vehicle led to a woman being shot in the leg.

Graney was taken into custody in the 2400 block of Kentford Court with another individual, police said. The other individual who was arrested has been released with no charges.

In court Friday, prosecutors said .45 caliber shell casings recovered from many of the shootings matched each other under preliminary investigation, indicating they were fired from the same gun. Prosecutors said police seized a .45 caliber handgun from Graney’s car when they arrested him.

The car, prosecutors said, matches the description of the vehicle used in at least some of the shootings, and cell tower data placed Graney at every shooting location at the time it happened.

The department is still actively investigating the shooting incidents, announcing a $10,000 reward for anyone who can provide information that leads to an arrest. “We are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying those responsible for these incidents,” they said in their Friday morning statement. Police are asking anyone with surveillance or dashcam video near the area of any of the shootings contact them.

What led to the arrest

CBS 17 reported on Thursday that officers used a flash bang in a neighborhood off of Tryon Road to take him into custody.

In the 5 p.m. press conference following shortly after, police chief Estella Patterson said two people had been taken into custody and that a total of 12 incidents are all connected.

In a timeline released by police after 4 p.m. Thursday, they laid out the following timeline:

Monday, Nov. 4

Incident 1 — 1 person injured, vehicle struck on I-40 near Cary Towne Boulevard

Incident 2 — 1 vehicle struck on I-40 near Buck Jones Road

Wednesday, Nov. 5

Incident 3 — 1 residence struck in 2400 block of Centennial Ridge Way

Incident 4 — 1 residence struck in 3200 block of Shire Lane

Incident 5 — 1 vehicle struck on I-40 near Trinity Road

Incident 6 — 1 vehicle struck on I-40 near Avent Ferry Road

Incident 7 — 1 vehicle struck on I-40 near Cary Towne Boulevard

Incident 8 — 1 vehicle struck on Jones Franklin Road near Capital Center Drive

Incident 9 — 1 residence struck in the 2000 block of Wolf Tech Lane

Incident 10 — A second residence struck in the 2000 block of Wolf Tech Lane

Thursday, Nov. 7

Incident 11 — 1 vehicle struck in the 1500 block of Trailwood Drive

Incident 12 — A second vehicle struck in the 1500 block of Trailwood Drive

Authorities on the scene, schools respond

On Thursday morning, multiple law enforcement agencies were on the scene of the shooting on Trailwood Drive in Raleigh near NC State University, which triggered a code yellow lockdown at Centennial Campus Magnet Middle School.

In a press conference at noon, Deputy Chief Rico Boyce with the Raleigh Police Department said that a man was driving down Trailwood when he heard a “boom” and his window shattered.

He called 911 after he pulled over around 8:50 a.m. near the 1400 block of Trailwood Drive.

Boyce said the driver was not injured and there was “no credible threat to the public.”

Boyce said in the noon press conference that the State Highway Patrol assisted in the investigation with their helicopter for an aerial search.

The NC State University Police Department said in a Wolf Alert to all NC State students they were also assisting the Raleigh Police Department on the scene. Boyd said NC State police were on hand “due to the proximity of the campus” to the crime scene.

An official from the Centennial Campus Magnet Middle School said due to police activity in the surrounding area, kids were kept inside on yellow lockdown until officers cleared the area.

“Police have blocked off roads around our campus, and it will be difficult or impossible to access our campus,” officials from the middle school said. “Again, all students are safe, and we are in regular communication with WCPSS Security and local law enforcement.”

In their statement, which went to parents to announce their lockdown, officials from the middle school said all students are safe. “We are in regular communication with WCPSS Security and local law enforcement.”

Just after 12:30 p.m., police reopened Trailwood Road to traffic as they continued their investigation. Wake County deputies, State Highway troopers, City-County Bureau of Identification and Raleigh police are actively investigating the shooting and searching for a suspect.

Officers asked that anyone with information to contact the Raleigh Police Department at 919-996-3335. In their Friday release, they announced a $10,000 reward for anyone who can provide information about the shooting incidents that can lead to an arrest.