Burlington man arrested after shooting into car on South Mebane Street

A South Mebane Street confrontation turned into a gunfire case that put one of Burlington’s busiest corridors under an unwelcome spotlight. Burlington police said two men were inside a car when it was shot at after an argument with another driver, and investigators later identified the suspect as Jeffrey Javon Veale, 36.

Police said officers were called at about 2:37 p.m. on June 4 to the 1700 block of South Mebane Street after reports of a shooting. Warrants were obtained for felony discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle and misdemeanor going armed to the terror of the public. Under North Carolina law, discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle is a Class D felony, while discharging a firearm within an occupied motor vehicle with intent to incite fear is a Class F felony.

Veale was taken into custody on June 6 by Greensboro police and was being held without bond, according to WXII. The arrest came two days after the shooting, showing how quickly the case moved from a roadside confrontation in Burlington to an in-custody suspect in Greensboro. No serious injuries were reported.

The location matters in Burlington because South Mebane Street is a heavily used commercial corridor, not an isolated stretch of road. City records show a 2024 rezoning notice for property at 806 S. Mebane Street, and city information has directed businesses with traffic, parking and security concerns to the police department. That mix of retail, development and heavy traffic means a dispute that starts behind the wheel can quickly spill into a public setting.

Burlington police said the department has more than 100 sworn officers and 50 professional staff members, and the Burlington Community Police Advisory Team typically meets on the second Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at the John Robert Kernodle Senior Center on South Mebane Street. Anyone with information can contact Burlington police at (336) 229-3500 or Alamance County Crime Stoppers at (336) 229-7100, and anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers’ P3 Tips app.