Raleigh police charged a 23-year-old NC State University student with aggravated assault early Friday after a week-long standoff shooting during rush hour Along Interstate 40 and near I-440.

Andrew Thomas Graney, of Kentford Court, faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, causing serious injury and discharging a weapon into an occupied dwelling or vehicle.

NC State officials confirmed Friday that Graney is a senior majoring in anthropology. The suspect is being held without bail in the Wake County jail.

Graney’s arrest comes as Raleigh police scrambled to find the shooter who opened fire on eight cars and four homes along Interstate 40 southwest of Raleigh between Monday and Thursday.

Police Chief Estella Patterson announced that two “persons of interest” were taken into custody Thursday afternoon from Kentford Court in southwest Raleigh. The second person detained was released and no charges were filed, according to police.

Police officers responded early Thursday to a single gunshot fired into a man’s car door on Trailwood Drive Thursday morning; This did not cause any injuries but raised residents’ fears that the victims would be targeted at random.

“We understand that the community is concerned and fear naturally arises with an event of this magnitude,” Patterson said at a news conference.

Two cars hit on Trailwood Drive

Just before 9 a.m. Thursday, shots were fired in the 1500 block of Trailwood, about a half-mile from I-40 and near the Gorman Avenue exit where one of the earlier shootings occurred.

Police later reported a second car shooting was reported on Trailwood Drive and multiple homes were involved in the investigation.

Raleigh Deputy Chief Rico Boyce said Thursday at the scene on Trailwood Drive that the department does not yet have “credible information” that the shooting is connected to any other incidents. However, Patterson confirmed at Thursday’s press conference that the shootings were related.

“I want to reassure the community that we, as the city of Raleigh, are doing everything we can to keep our citizens safe,” Boyce said.

Shooting on and near I-40 in Raleigh

The first two shootings occurred Monday near Cary Towne Boulevard, where a woman was shot in the leg, and then near Buck Jones Road.

Four more cars were hit on Wednesday; the first three are at Trinity Road, Avent Ferry Road and Cary Towne Boulevard near I-40, and the last one is at Jones Franklin Road and Capital Center Drive.

Police listed Trailwood Drive as the seventh vehicle hit this week. They are also investigating a series of shots fired at Raleigh homes: the 2400 block of Centennial Ridge Way, the 3200 block of Shire Lane and two in the 2000 block of Wolf Tech Lane.

“The Raleigh Police Department continues to investigate these incidents and has focused our resources on identifying the person or persons responsible,” Senior Detective Christopher Gay said in a statement Thursday. “We will continue to work with our Federal, State and local law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of those traveling on our streets and highways.”

Police said they believe the weapon used was a handgun.

Timeline of shooting

Here is a timeline of the shootings, according to the Raleigh Police Department.

Monday

on I-40 near Cary Towne Boulevard. One person was shot in the leg in a car accident.

on I-40 near Buck Jones Road. No one was injured in the single car it hit.

Wednesday

in the 2400 block of Centennial Ridge Way. A house was hit, and no one was injured.

in the 3200 block of Shire Lane. One house was hit and no one was injured.

on I-40 near Trinity Road. A car; No injuries.

on I-40 near Avent Ferry Road. He was hit by a car; No injuries.

on I-40 near Cary Towne Boulevard; Hit by a vehicle; No injuries.

on Jones Franklin Road near Capital Center Drive. He was hit by a car; No injuries.

in the 2000 block of Wolf Tech Lane. Two houses were hit; No injuries.

Thursday

in the 1500 block of Trailwood Drive; Two cars crashed, no one was injured.