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ASHEBORO — Law enforcement agencies are on the lookout for a suspect they say is armed and dangerous this morning, following a shooting at an Archdale business yesterday.
What Happened?
On Tuesday, April 16th at approximately 9:07 a.m. the Archdale Police Department was called about a male suspect who entered the business of Carolina Container and fired multiple shots before fleeing the area in a white truck.According to the Archdale Police Department no one was injured in the shooting and a description of a male suspect was gathered.
According to Randolph County Schools, due to the shooting, Wheatmore Middle School was placed on full lockdown from around 9:20 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and was later moved to “modified lockdown” until around 10 a.m.
At 10:43 am, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Beckerdite Rd. and Thompson Heath Rd., in Sophia, after Randolph County 9-1-1 received multiple calls about an armed person. Several callers in the area reported seeing a white male on foot in the area carrying firearms, knocking on doors, going through vehicles, and requesting to use a phone.
According to a press release from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, when deputies arrived in the area, they were notified of an additional caller reporting the theft of a silver Nissan truck. Soon after, another caller reported a silver Nissan truck, matching the description, speeding down on Beckerdite Rd. at US Hwy 311, possibly heading towards I-74 southbound toward I85.
At around 11:00 a.m. police located an abandoned white F350 in a field off of Thompson Heath Rd., determined it to be the same vehicle used by the suspect during the shooting. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the F350 had been reported stolen out of Davidson County.
At around 2 p.m. the Archdale Police Department identified the male suspect from the shooting as 36-year-old Joshua Blaine Arquette of Kannapolis, NC.
Be on the look out
According to records from the NC Department of Adult Correction, Arquette is currently on parole stemming from an April 2023 conviction in Cabarrus County for assault with deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflicting serious injury and possession of a firearm by a felon.
After being released on parole in September of 2023 Arquette was involved in a multi-agency pursuit and half-hour standoff with Police in Rowan County.
Warrants have been issued for Arquette for multiple charges including felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle, felony larceny of motor vehicle, and misdemeanor injury to real property. He was last seen in a stolen silver 2004 Nissan Titan truck with a diamond-plated toolbox.
Archdale Police say If you see Arquette contact your local law enforcement IMMEDIATELY and do not approach or attempt to detain him. He is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with any additional information on these incidents or who knows the whereabouts of Arquette, please call 911, or contact the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office at 336-318-6698. Or to remain anonymous, you can call the Randolph County Crime Stoppers tip line at (336-672-7463). Both the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office (Randolph Sheriff NC) and Crime Stoppers (P3Tips) have apps where tips may also be submitted.
UPDATE (4/17/24 11:30 a.m.) — This morning, we are learning that at around 9 p.m. last night the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office located the 2004 Nissan Titan, stolen from Thompson Heath Rd., in Rowan County. Arquette remains at large and is still considered armed and dangerous.
UPDATE – (4/20/24 2 p.m.) — According to information from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, on April 19th, 2024, Arquette was arrested in Rowan County by the Kannapolis Police Department, at the Oyo Hotel on 3100 Cloverleaf Parkway.
He was transported to the Cabarrus County Detention Center where he was served the warrants out of Randolph County and bond was denied. A first appearance is set for April 22, 2024, in Randolph County District Court.