Durham, N.C., man held without bond in death of former partner

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Summary: Lontrel Alston, 38, is held without bond in Durham, N.C., for the Saturday killing of former partner Victoria James, 43, as two of her children rode with her.

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A Durham County judge denied bond Monday to the man accused of killing 43-year-old Victoria James during a Saturday shooting in Durham, North Carolina.

Lontrel Diray Alston, 38, made his first court appearance after his arrest. The judge assigned him a public defender and set the next hearing for Oct. 1. Alston’s lawyer told the court his client works in landscaping, has five children and has no recent failures to appear. The judge still ordered him held.

Saturday shooting leaves mother dead

Police say the shooting happened about 1:30 p.m. Saturday. James was driving a Mitsubishi Outlander with two passengers when Alston, driving a Chevrolet Trailblazer, pulled in front of her vehicle and forced it to stop. He then left his SUV and fired into her car, according to investigators.

James died at the scene. Durham police described the case as domestic. They said James and Alston had previously been in a relationship.

Two others were inside the vehicle

Loved ones told reporters that James’s two children were with her. Court records identify the passengers as Dasia James, an adult who was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, and Jeffery James, 16, who was not hurt.

Alston faces first-degree murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, discharging a weapon inside an occupied vehicle, and habitual misdemeanor assault. The warrant alleges he shot Victoria James, wounded Dasia James and assaulted Jeffery James while firing into the occupied vehicle.

Court records show Alston has prior convictions from 2018 in Halifax County for misdemeanor assault and assault on a female. His attorney described that record as limited.

Prosecutors have not yet presented a full case in open court. Alston remains in custody pending the October date.

The case is one of several recent homicides in Durham County that authorities have classified as involving former intimate partners.

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Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Sources/related links:

WRAL: No bond for Durham man charged with murdering former partner
News & Observer: Durham man accused of fatally shooting ex-girlfriend
ABC11: Victoria James killed after shots fired into SUV
CBS17: Durham shooting into car kills Victoria James

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