Clerk Was Talking On His Cell Phone With His Wife When He Was Gunned Down
The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday the arrest of three people in connection with the slaying of a convenience store clerk.
Darius Dontae McCalston and Omarl Alexander Smith, both of Raleigh are charged with first degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and felony conspiracy for the fatal October 27th shooting of 29 year-old Esmail Alshami, a clerk at the Shop and Go convenience store at 13569 NC Highway 39, North, Zebulon. A second person in the store, Ricky Lynch, 51, was also shot but survived. Both suspects were in the Wake County Jail when they were served with the warrants on Wednesday.
Grecia Anegelica Montes, 20, of Will Road, Middlesex was arrested Wednesday and charged with being an accessory to the crime.
McCalston is one of 5 people charged by Raleigh Police with an attempted robbery on Nov. 13th in the Woodland Court Apartments on Shire Lane. During the robbery, a 27 year-old victim was shot in the hand.
After announcing the arrests Thursday morning Sheriff Steve Bizzell told WTSB News, “What better time of the year to put a closure to this senseless murder of a young man that was just working earning a living for his family.”
WTSB News also learned today that Alshami was talking with his wife on his cell phone when he was murdered. She reportedly heard her husband being killed.
Bail has been denied for McCalston and Smith. Montes is being held under a half million dollar bond.
