Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Andy Jackson said Alston, who has family in Baltimore, apparently fled there soon after the September 24 murder of Cotton and the shooting of Richard Squire Jr. on September 24 as the pair were in a car at Gordon Drive.

Alston is the seventh person charged in the murder and the second person in the case to be charged with going armed to the terror of the people and discharging a weapon in the city limits, charges that back up a warrant alleging he and 18-year-old Rodney Joyner fired shots that killed Cotton and seriously injured Squire.

In all, the pair face charges of attempted first-degree murder, one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, one count of conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of felony conspiracy and one count of going armed to the terror of the people.

The other five charged face one count of conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, two counts felony conspiracy, one count of attempted first-degree murder, one count robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count of attempted first-degree murder and one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

Alston was arrested last Wednesday in Baltimore after coordination with an undisclosed agency, detectives working the case said.

At the time of his arrest, Alston was being sought for a probation violation in the state of Maryland.

Maryland authorities are currently addressing his probation violation and will then address matters concerning his extradition to Halifax County, which will mean getting a fugitive warrant for him, Jackson said.

“This gives closure to the families,” Detective Bobby Martin, who along with Detective Jeff Davis, worked numerous hours and coordinated with several law enforcement agencies in Halifax County and other jurisdictions to solve the case.

Alston was known to frequent the Weldon area where he has family, Martin said.

Martin described Alston as a mutual friend with the others charged in the case. “They knew each other from the streets.”

He said the cooperative effort between the numerous law enforcement involved in the case helped reel in Alston and the others in the case. “There's been a very good working relationship between agencies due to the recent occurrences in the Weldon area.”

Martin said Squire is recovering from the wounds he received in the shooting.

The families were pleased to hear the news. “They are very pleased to learn the last person is in custody. Mr. Cotton's mother religiously kept in contact with me and I was able to give her the good news.”