ASHEBORO N.C. – Two people were arrested after an incident last month where a meetup for an online sale turned into a shootout, leaving one person injured.
According to a press release from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, on October 27th, 2023, deputies responded to Creekway Ridge, in Asheboro, for a report of a gunshot wound.
When deputies arrived, they located the victim who told investigators that a white male suspect had arrived at the residence to buy items listed for sale online. According to the press release, the suspect “began firing shots” at the seller who “returned fire with a shotgun” before the suspect fled the scene in a black SUV striking a concrete well cap and damaging it.
The victim sustained a small wound to the leg that appeared to be from shrapnel.
Deputies located approximately seven bullet holes in the side of the house and one shotgun shell casing lying on the ground to the left of the steps.
A 911 caller, identified by the Sheriff’s Office as Robert Allen Beane, Jr., called in and told dispatchers that he was involved in the shooting on Creekway Ridge and was heading to a residence on Staleys Farm Rd.
When additional deputies arrived at the home on Staleys Farm Rd, they say they located the black vehicle parked in the driveway and a white male who laid a firearm on a vehicle and surrendered.
The Criminal Investigations Division and Crime Scene Investigations responded to both locations to further investigate and collect evidence.
Beane was taken into custody at the residence and taken to the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office for questioning and later taken to the Randolph County Jail. There a magistrate found probable cause for charges of felony discharge weapon into an occupied dwelling and misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon. No bond was given due to the Pre-Trial Integrity Act. A first appearance was set for October 30, 2023, in Randolph County District Court.
The magistrate also found probable cause for charges against the victim, identified by the Sheriff’s Office as Michael Lee Russell for felony discharging weapon into a moving vehicle and misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon and issued a warrant for his arrest.
On November 5, 2023, Russell was arrested and transported to the Randolph County Jail where he was served the warrant and ordered to remain in custody until his court date on November 6, 2023, in Randolph County District Court.