Alex Devote’ Saunders, 32, was shot and killed on the afternoon of May 24, 2025, in the 2700 block of Piedmont Circle in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Officers arrived about 1:30 p.m. and found Saunders suffering from gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Early reports identified him as Alex Devonte Saunders, while family funeral materials gave his name as Alex Devote’ Saunders.

Loved ones remembered Saunders as a devoted partner and father with a playful spirit. His longtime girlfriend, Charlotte James, said they had known each other since middle school and built a family together, describing him as loyal and working to support those he loved. Friends and relatives gathered in the days after the shooting, sharing memories and calling for justice.

On June 12, 2025, police located a suspect at a home on East 23rd Street. After an hours-long standoff with the Winston-Salem Police Department’s SWAT team, officers arrested 28-year-old D’Angelo Scales, who was charged with felony murder and felony possession of a firearm by a felon; court records showed an initial appearance the following day. Investigators continue to ask anyone with information to come forward. Did anyone in the community see activity on Piedmont Circle that afternoon or know more about what happened?