On the night of May 17, 2023, at approximately 10:15 p.m., Durham Police Department officers responded to a reported shooting at the Chapel Tower apartment complex, located in the 3300 block of Glasson Street, off Morreene Road in Durham, North Carolina. Upon arrival, they discovered 30-year-old Shanell Nicole Alston suffering from a gunshot wound. Alston was promptly transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Following a thorough investigation, authorities identified 29-year-old McLandra Dale Roper Jr. as a suspect in Alston's murder. On June 7, 2023, Durham Police announced Roper's arrest and charged him with murder. He was taken into custody and held without bond. In addition to the murder charge, Roper faced charges of robbery with a dangerous weapon and first-degree burglary in a separate case. He was also served with pending warrants from 2022 for carrying a concealed gun, driving while license revoked, failure to yield at a stoplight, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
The investigation into Alston's death revealed that the shooting was not a random act, suggesting a possible prior connection between Alston and Roper. However, specific details regarding their relationship or the motive behind the shooting were not disclosed by the authorities. The Durham Police Department continued to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case and urged anyone with additional information to come forward.
Alston's death was part of a concerning pattern of violence in Durham during that period, marking the third homicide in the city within a week. The community expressed grief and concern over the rising incidents of violence, prompting local law enforcement to increase efforts to address and prevent such crimes.
A funeral service for Alston was held on May 26, 2023, at Peace Missionary Baptist Church in Durham, where family and friends gathered to mourn her untimely passing and celebrate her life. She was laid to rest at Beechwood Cemetery.
