Dispute Outside Asheboro Store Ends in Deadly Double Shooting
ASHEBORO, N.C. — A violent confrontation in Asheboro turned deadly Saturday evening when an argument between two men escalated into a double shooting in a Marshall’s parking lot, according to the Asheboro Police Department.
At 7:06 p.m., officers were dispatched to the shopping center following multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired. When officers arrived, they discovered 23-year-old Alexander Benitez-Hernandez suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers immediately rendered aid until paramedics arrived, but despite their efforts, Benitez-Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses told dispatchers that after the gunfire, one of the individuals involved left the parking lot in a red Ford F-250 pickup truck. A short time later, officers located the truck on East Salisbury Street and conducted a traffic stop. The driver was found to have sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and was transported to an out-of-county medical facility for treatment. Police confirmed the driver was also directly involved in the shooting.
Preliminary findings from the investigation indicate that the conflict began inside a nearby business, where Benitez-Hernandez and the other man got into a verbal dispute. The argument spilled outside into the parking lot, where both men reportedly brandished firearms and exchanged gunfire, striking one another.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the second man. Police say no charges have been filed at this time, though the case remains under active investigation.
The deadly shooting shocked shoppers and employees who were in the busy retail area at the time. Many described scenes of panic as people scrambled for safety when the shots rang out.
“This is a place families come to shop,” said one witness who asked not to be identified. “It’s scary to think something like this can happen in broad daylight in a parking lot.”
Asheboro Police continue to investigate the circumstances that led to the fatal confrontation. Detectives are reviewing security footage, interviewing witnesses, and working to determine whether additional parties may have been involved.
The APD is asking anyone with information related to the shooting to contact investigators at 336-626-1300 or submit tips anonymously through Randolph County Crime Stoppers at 336-672-7463.