One woman is dead, and another is in the hospital after a shooting Saturday afternoon in Durham.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0The driver Victoria James, 43, of Durham was pronounced dead at the scene.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alston’s charges include:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFirst-degree murderTwo counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to killHabitual misdemeanor assaultMisdemeanor discharge weapon into occupied property<\/p>\n
The crime happened in Durham’s Parkwood neighborhood, an area neighbors told WRAL is usually quiet and close-knit.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“I’ve lived here over 50 years, and I’ve never seen anything like that,” Sanders said.<\/p>\n
Sanders contacted 911 after this unfolded in front of her home.\u00a0Durham police were on the scene for about 5 hours before clearing the crime scene tape on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Durham Police said this is “an isolated incident, the result of a domestic dispute.”\u00a0James 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.<\/p>\n
Alston is being held without bond at the Durham County Jail<\/p>\n
Additional information will be released at the appropriate time. <\/p>\n