One woman is dead, and another is in the hospital after a shooting Saturday afternoon in Durham.
According to the Durham Police Department, two women were driving around 1:30 p.m. along Revere Road when shots were fired into their vehicle. The driver Victoria James, 43, of Durham was pronounced dead at the scene.
The second woman was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, a 16-year-old male was also in the vehicle during the shooting but was not injured.
A woman who spoke to WRAL on behalf of the family Sunday said the two passengers in the vehicle were James’ children, who are now without a mother or father. Betty Carter, who was close to James, said their father died of illness years prior.
Durham police identified and arrested the shooting suspect as Lontrel Alston, 38, of Durham on Saturday. They say Alston was in a relationship with James before the fatal shooting.
Alston’s charges include:
- First-degree murder
- Two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill
- Habitual misdemeanor assault
- Misdemeanor discharge weapon into occupied property
The crime happened in Durham’s Parkwood neighborhood, an area neighbors told WRAL is usually quiet and close-knit.
Barbara Sanders, who lives on Revere Road, said she heard gunshots and witnessed a man with a gun run from near a vehicle, where a woman and another young woman were in distress.
“I’ve lived here over 50 years, and I’ve never seen anything like that,” Sanders said.
Sanders contacted 911 after this unfolded in front of her home. Durham police were on the scene for about 5 hours before clearing the crime scene tape on Saturday.
Durham Police said this is “an isolated incident, the result of a domestic dispute.” James and Alston were previously in a relationship before the fatal shooting. The investigation is ongoing. Alston will make his first court appearance September 14 at 11 a.m.
Alston is being held without bond at the Durham County Jail
Additional information will be released at the appropriate time.
Durham Police asks anyone with any information to call Investigator D. Hall at 919-560-4440 ext. 29319 or CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200 or online at www.durhamcrimestoppers.org.