Fuquay-Varina Zaxby’s Shooting: One Dead, Second Victim Injured

A shooting inside a Zaxby’s restaurant on North Main Street in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, has become a homicide investigation after one of two men shot during the incident died from his injuries.

Police were called to the restaurant shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday and found two men suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were taken to nearby hospitals.

One victim later died, while the second was reported to be in stable condition and expected to recover.

Police have since arrested 18-year-old Otis Lee Johnson and charged him with murder. The charge is an allegation, and the case remains subject to the ongoing investigation and court process.

Shooting at Zaxby’s on North Main Street

The incident occurred at the Zaxby’s at 1341 N. Main St. in Fuquay-Varina.

According to police, the shooting followed a confrontation inside the restaurant involving a man and a male employee. Authorities said the verbal dispute escalated into a physical altercation before a firearm was drawn and shots were fired.

The precise sequence of events remains under investigation.

Police have not publicly identified the man who died in the latest information available, as authorities were handling family notification.

Fuquay-Varina Shooting Details

What Police Say Happened

The preliminary information released by authorities indicates that the shooting followed a confrontation inside the restaurant.

Investigators said the confrontation began verbally and later became physical. During the altercation, a firearm was discharged, resulting in both men being shot.

The investigation will determine the full circumstances surrounding the confrontation and the shooting.

A family member of the restaurant employee told WRAL that the employee was his son and claimed that he fired the weapon after being attacked at work. That account represents the family’s allegation and should be distinguished from facts established through the police investigation or any eventual court proceedings.

18-Year-Old Charged With Murder

Police announced Thursday that Otis Lee Johnson, 18, had been taken into custody and charged with murder.

The criminal charge does not constitute a finding of guilt. Johnson is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until guilt is established through the legal process.

Additional evidence, witness accounts and court proceedings may provide further information about the events leading to the shooting.

Second Victim Reported Stable

The second man injured in the shooting was transported to a hospital for treatment and was subsequently described as stable.

Police said he was expected to recover.

No additional shooting victims were reported in the available information.

Identity of Deceased Victim Not Yet Released

Authorities had not publicly released the identity of the man who died at the time of the latest report.

Family notification was still being handled, and additional information may be released once that process is complete.

Until an official identification is announced, names circulating through social media or unofficial sources should not be treated as confirmed.

Investigation Continues

Fuquay-Varina police continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Investigators are working to establish the sequence of events inside the restaurant, including what led to the confrontation and how the shooting unfolded.

Further information may become available through police updates and court proceedings.

Community Impact

A shooting at a familiar local restaurant has brought concern to the Fuquay-Varina community, while the death has left family and friends of the deceased facing a sudden loss.

For those who knew the victim, the case is not simply a criminal investigation. It is also the loss of a person whose life was connected to family, friends and others who cared about him.

As authorities work to establish the facts, those affected by the shooting are left to process both the death of one man and the injuries suffered by another.

Fuquay-Varina Shooting: What Happens Next

The murder charge against Otis Lee Johnson is now part of an ongoing criminal case. Investigators will continue gathering evidence and establishing the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.

The identity of the deceased victim, additional information about the second victim and further details concerning the investigation may be released as authorities are able to provide them.

For now, the confirmed picture is of a shooting at the North Main Street Zaxby’s that left one man dead and another injured, with an 18-year-old facing a murder charge.

Disclaimer: This article is based on information attributed to Fuquay-Varina police and local news reporting concerning the September 2026 shooting. The charge against Otis Lee Johnson is an allegation and does not establish guilt. Statements attributed to family members concerning the circumstances of the shooting are likewise allegations unless independently established through the investigation or court proceedings. Details may change as the case develops.