Ramone Jamarr Alston, also known as the “Christmas Day Killer,” escaped custody on Tuesday morning near UNC Hillsborough Hospital in North Carolina. He was captured in Kannapolis, more than 100 miles away from where he escaped, at a hotel on Cloverleaf Parkway around 2 a.m. on Friday. Tactical officers arrested him, and he will face charges for felony escape from prison. Alston had been serving a life sentence for the murder of 1-year-old Maleah Williams, who was killed in a drive-by shooting. Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood, who knows Alston’s family personally, described him as dangerous and someone with nothing to lose.
Authorities took Alston into custody and charged him with felony escape from prison. He is being transferred to a high-security unit in the state prison system, where he will await court appearances for his escape charges. A female acquaintance of Alston, Jacobia Crisp, was also arrested in Alamance County on charges of aiding and abetting a fugitive. Investigators are looking into whether Alston had help from others, and additional charges may be possible. Alston, who was involved in criminal activity since he was a juvenile, was one of two gunmen in a drive-by shooting in Chapel Hill in 2015, during which Maleah was fatally shot.
Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood warned the public about Alston, emphasizing his dangerous nature and the fact that he has nothing to lose. Blackwood stated that he has known Alston’s family for a long time and described the escapee as a troubled child. He highlighted Alston’s criminal history and noted that he was extremely cagey. Alston’s involvement in criminal activity dates back to his juvenile years. He was serving a life sentence for his role in the drive-by shooting that led to Maleah’s death. Police believe Alston was at the wheel during the incident, and he was one of the gunmen who opened fire in an apartment complex.
Alston’s escape prompted a manhunt in North Carolina, with authorities searching for him near UNC Hillsborough Hospital. Despite his capture in Kannapolis, police indicated that they were still investigating whether Alston had help from others. The female acquaintance who was arrested for aiding and abetting a fugitive, Jacobia Crisp, may face additional charges related to assisting Alston in his escape. As Alston awaits court appearances for his escape charges, he will be transferred to a high-security unit within the state prison system. The Christmas Day Killer’s capture brings closure to the search that began with his escape and highlights the efforts of law enforcement in locating and detaining dangerous criminals like Alston.
The capture of Ramone Jamarr Alston, the “Christmas Day Killer,” marks the end of a manhunt that began when he escaped custody in North Carolina. Authorities arrested him in Kannapolis, more than 100 miles away from where he escaped, at a hotel on Cloverleaf Parkway early on Friday morning. He will now face charges for felony escape from prison and be transferred to a high-security unit within the state prison system. Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood, who grew up with Alston’s father, described the escapee as dangerous and with a lengthy history of criminal activity. Alston’s involvement in the drive-by shooting that resulted in Maleah Williams’ death led to his life sentence and subsequent escape from custody.
