Dispatcher Arrested: Murder-Updated

Guilford County (NC) Metro 911 dispatcher Shannon Crawley, 27, has been arrested and charged with the murder of North Carolina Central University student Denita Smith, 25, on Jan. 5th. Crawley was suspended the day after the murder after police named her a “person of interest” in the shooting death. She is a 6-year veteran of the comm center. In a prepared statement center director Wesley Reid said, “Guilford Metro 911 appreciates the many calls of support from statewide 911 agencies and wants to assure the public of our continued commitment to provide outstanding 911 service to Greensboro and Guilford County residents.” He said grief counselors were made available to Crawley’s co-workers. Police would not release details about the connection between the two women or a motive. Crawley has two elementary school-age children. On May 9th, a judge set bail of $175,000 for Crawley after her attorney said she was not a flight risk.