31-year-old man shot to death in Fayetteville, police searching for killer

The search is on for the suspect in an early morning shooting in Fayetteville that left one person dead.

Around 5:20 a.m., officers with the Fayetteville Police Department responded to the 2000 block of Seneca Drive at Courtney Street. When police got there, they found the victim in the street. 31-year-old Willie Russell, of Fayetteville, died after being shot multiple times. WRAL News was told he died while being transported to the hospital.

Now, the search is on for his killer.

WRAL's Gilbert Baez spoke with neighbors who heard the gunshots and called 911. Folks who live on Seneca Drive said this is normally a quiet place. But that quiet was shattered when gunfire rang out early Sunday morning.

The shooting happened outside Roscoe Blue's house. He has lived on Seneca Drive for years. He said the early morning gunfire woke him up, and he ran to his front door.

"The man was laying right there by my garbage can," Blue said.

He said the police came back and took pictures around his house and ask him some questions about the shooting.

Blue said he's concerned that something like this happened right in front of his house.

Police are continuing their search for the person who killed Russell. So far, no arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective R. Vernon at 910-729-2525. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Fayetteville/Cumberland County Crime Stoppers by calling 910-483-8477.