Man arrested after fatal NC shootout in Marshalls parking lot, police say

ASHEBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — A man was arrested on Tuesday after a fatal shooting in Asheboro last month, according to an Asheboro Police Department news release.

On August 30 at 7:06 p.m., officers responded to a shooting in the parking lot of a Marshalls on East Dixie Drive.

Police were told one person was shot at the scene, and another person, later identified as Branson Russell, who was involved left the scene in a red Ford F-250.

Officers found Alexander Benitez-Hernandez, 23, had been shot and rendered aid until medical personnel arrived. Officers said he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Shortly after the shooting, the Ford was found on East Salisbury Street, where officers conducted a traffic stop.

The driver had been shot in the leg and was identified as being involved in the shooting. He was taken to a hospital.

Police say Benitez-Hernandez and Russell started arguing inside a business. Russell then waited outside for Benitez-Hernandez.

Benitez-Hernandez reportedly shot Russell in the lower leg then ran toward his vehicle.

Russell got in his vehicle and retrieved a .30-30 rifle as he drove toward Benitez-Hernandez’s vehicle.

He then fired one shot from the rifle and hit Benitez-Hernandez in the back, police say.

On Monday, a grand jury was convened in Randolph County. The facts of the case were presented to the jury, which returned a true bill of indictment against Russell for second-degree murder.

He was taken into custody around 3 p.m. on Tuesday and served with the indictment and jailed with no bond.