On the night of May 3, 2025, Alfredo Escalona Mares, a 50-year-old employee at the Value Mart convenience store on Broadway Road and Highway 87 near Sanford, North Carolina, was shot and killed during an armed robbery. Deputies from the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office arrived about 11:15 p.m. and found Mares deceased inside the store. A masked suspect entered, demanded money, shot Mares, assaulted a customer who was later taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, then fled.

Investigators describe the suspect as a Black male about 5 feet 9 inches tall with a medium to heavy build, wearing black clothing from head to toe on surveillance footage. No arrests have been announced; the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Mares, originally from Mexico City, Mexico, was remembered as kind and helpful by customers and loved ones. A GoFundMe reportedly organized by his daughter was started to help with costs to relocate his remains, and a memorial service was planned for May 13. Does anyone have information or dashcam or surveillance video from the area that could help investigators?