The driver died, one passenger was hospitalized and a 16-year-old escaped injury as police investigated gunfire along Revere Road.
DURHAM, N.C. — Three people were inside a Mitsubishi Outlander when shots were fired into the SUV on a Durham road Saturday afternoon, leaving the driver dead, another occupant injured and a 16-year-old unharmed, according to police and court records.
Victoria James, 43, of Durham, was driving south on Revere Road near Sedwick Road when the vehicle came under gunfire around 1:30 p.m. Sept. 12, police said. James was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released a detailed public account explaining what happened immediately before the shooting.
Dasia James, who was riding in the SUV, was taken to a hospital with injuries described by police as non-life-threatening. Court records cited by local news reports identify Jeffery James, 16, as another victim connected to the case. He was not physically injured.
The different outcomes for the three occupants are reflected in the charges filed against 38-year-old Lontrel Diray Alston of Durham. Police arrested Alston and charged him with first-degree murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, an offense involving gunfire into the occupied vehicle and habitual misdemeanor assault.
An arrest warrant alleges Alston fired a handgun into the SUV, killing Victoria James, wounding Dasia James and assaulting Jeffery James. The warrant describes the prosecution’s allegations and does not establish guilt. Authorities have not publicly disclosed a motive or explained what connection, if any, Alston had to the occupants.
The shooting drew police to the Revere Road area during the afternoon as investigators began documenting the scene and the people involved. The available police account indicates the SUV was traveling south when it was struck by gunfire, but officials have not publicly said whether the shooter was standing near the roadway, inside another vehicle or in another location.
Police also have not released the number of shots fired or provided a public description of the evidence recovered during the investigation. Those details remain unclear as detectives continue working to establish a complete sequence of events.
Victoria James’ death is being investigated as a homicide. The additional assault charges relate to the other people prosecutors allege were endangered during the same shooting, including the passenger who was wounded and the teenager who was not hurt.
The investigation remains active, according to Durham police. Authorities have not announced further arrests or publicly released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Author note: Last updated September 14, 2026.