Man charged with murdering 30-year-old woman found fatally shot in west Durham

Police announced Wednesday they have arrested a man in the killing of 30-year-old Shanell Nicole Alston last month in west Durham.

Around 10:15 p.m May 17., Alston was found shot on Glasson Street off Morreene Road. She was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead, according to police.

McLandra Dale Roper Jr., 29, has been charged with murder, the Durham Police Department stated in a news release.. He also faces charges of robbery with a dangerous weapon and first-degree burglary in a separate case,

Roper was also served with pending warrants from 2022 for carrying a concealed gun, driving while license revoked, failure to yield at a stop light, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, according to the release.

Alston was at least the 10th woman shot (fatally and non-fatally) in Durham this year, according to police statistics.

As of June 3, a total of 78 people had been shot in the city this year, 20 of them fatally, the latest police statistics show.

This story was originally published May 18, 2023 at 7:55 AM.