AHOSKIE – Two suspects have been developed in a shooting here early Wednesday morning that left a store clerk at Ahoskie’s Murphy Express gas station clinging to her life.

Arrest warrants have been drawn for Shakur Deandre Stephenson of 104 Pine Street, Murfreesboro, on six felony counts of attempted first degree murder. Other charges are pending.

A second individual, Andre Taylor (address unknown), is listed as a person of interest in the shooting.

Ahoskie Police Chief Troy Fitzhugh said his office was notified of the shooting shortly past 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. Upon the arrival of APD Sgt. Jeffrey Woodard and Patrolman Bruce Farmer, the store clerk, only identified as a female, was found suffering from a gunshot wound in the parking lot of the store. They immediately summoned a Hertford County EMS unit to the scene.

Additional officers and the APD Investigation Division were called to the scene as well.

“After the initial victim was picked up and airlifted to another hospital, investigators worked the crime scene at Murphy Express and collected evidence while on the scene,” Fitzhugh said.

The Ahoskie PD Chief told the R-C News-Herald that prior to the shooting, there was an altercation between individuals in the parking lot of the store, located on US 13 South, adjacent to the Wal Mart.

“From the information we gathered, the store clerk exited the store and was in the vicinity of the individuals involved in the altercation at which time shots were fired, and the store clerk was struck by a bullet,” Fitzhugh said.

He added that he did not believe the store clerk was the intended target.

Two other unnamed victims outside the store were each struck by bullets. Their injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

“After clearing the scene at Murphy Express, investigators met with and interviewed two other victims that were shot at Murphy Express,” Fitzhugh said, adding those two men were at the Emergency Room of Vidant R-CH when they were interviewed.

Fitzhugh said the interviews and evidence collected led APD Detectives Justin Farmer and Stephen White

to draw up the six felony warrants against Stephenson.

The Police Chief added that Stephenson is to be considered armed and dangerous. Those with information on his whereabouts are urged to contact the Ahoskie Police Department at 252-332-5011 or their nearest law enforcement agency.

“We appreciate the assistance and help from our citizens, Hertford County Sheriffs Office, Murfreesboro Police Department, Windsor Police Department, ALE, Bertie County Sheriff’s Office, and the media, local and out of state, on this case,” Fitzhugh said.