Deputies say an early-morning shooting on Interstate 40 near Asheville turned into a dangerous struggle later that same day, when the man they were looking for allegedly tried to speed off with a sheriff’s lieutenant still partly inside his car.
The arrest capped a long day for investigators. It started with reports that a driver in a pickup had been shot at near Exit 59 on I-40. The victim’s truck took the hits, but the driver did not, and deputies spent the day tracking the suspect before confronting him that evening on Tunnel Road.
How Investigators Say It Unfolded
According to a Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office news release, as reported by the Charlotte Observer, the shooting was reported just before 6 a.m. on June 10 near Patton Cove Road. A warrant was later issued for attempted first-degree murder and related charges.
The release states that the victim’s 2024 Chevy Silverado was struck multiple times during that morning incident. Investigators say deputies caught up with the suspect around 8 p.m. Tuesday, when they spotted him driving a 2025 Nissan Sentra on Tunnel Road.
Court records identify the suspect as Alexander Sherman McKenzie, who previously served time after a 1997 armed bank robbery conviction, according to Justia. Deputies say that when they stopped McKenzie on Tunnel Road, he had a 9 mm handgun despite his felony record.
Charges And Officer Safety
The sheriff’s news release, as reported by the Charlotte Observer, lists charges that include attempted first-degree murder, discharging a firearm to incite fear, and discharging a weapon into occupied property. Investigators say additional counts include assault with a deadly weapon on a government officer, resisting a public officer, possession of a firearm by a felon, and carrying a concealed weapon.
During the Tunnel Road stop, deputies say McKenzie tried to drive off, dragging a sheriff’s lieutenant a short distance before stopping. The sheriff’s office reported that the lieutenant was not injured.
What Comes Next
McKenzie is in custody and will be processed through the Buncombe County Detention Facility while prosecutors review the case and decide on formal filings. The news release did not list bail or upcoming court dates, and investigators say the probe remains active.
Anyone with information about the shooting on I-40 or the Tunnel Road incident is asked to contact the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office.
