On the evening of June 9, 2023, at about 8:17 p.m., officers from the Thomasville Police Department responded to a reported shooting at the Budget Inn, 201 North Road, Thomasville, North Carolina. Inside one of the motel rooms they found 35-year-old Justin Foster deceased; officials described his death as an apparent homicide.

Detectives identified 30-year-old Randy Clifton-Chester Rouse of Greensboro as the primary suspect. Rouse was arrested the next day, June 10, 2023, by the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office and charged with murder; he was booked into the Davidson County Jail without bond pending a June 28 court appearance. Authorities did not disclose the relationship between Foster and Rouse or a motive and said the investigation was ongoing while not seeking additional suspects.

Foster, who lived in High Point, was remembered by family and friends; a celebration of his life was held June 24, 2023, at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Iron Station. If anyone has information about the shooting or knew Foster, contact the Thomasville Police Department or Crime Stoppers.