A Zaxby’s employee is in custody after an altercation at the restaurant in Fuquay-Varina led to a fatal shooting Wednesday evening.
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Fuquay-Varina police responded to reports of gunfire at a Zaxby’s restaurant on North Main Street just after 5:30 p.m. after a man confronted a male employee at the restaurant, according to police.
Police on Thursday identified the employee as Otis Lee Johnson Jr., 18, and the other man as Quanterius Avance Elliott, 19.
The shooting stemmed from an earlier dispute Sept. 15, according to police, when the two had an altercation at Johnson’s home in Fuquay-Varina. They resumed the dispute Wednesday night, when the altercation became physical. Johnson fired a gun, which hit both men, according to police.
They were taken to a nearby hospital Wednesday night. Elliott was pronounced dead when he arrived, police said. Johnson was treated for his injuries and taken into custody.
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Johnson now faces a murder charge for the shooting, police said Thursday morning.
Johnson was also wanted in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on charges of assault and battery, a court document states. He is being held in Wake County custody and will appear in court Thursday afternoon.
“This tragic event has deeply affected the community, the families involved, and the employees of Zaxby’s,” a Fuquay-Varina town spokesperson wrote Thursday morning. “We ask that the community keep everyone involved in their prayers during this incredibly difficult time.”
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This is a breaking story. Please check back for updates.
This story was originally published September 17, 2026 at 10:20 AM.