HAMPTON, Va. — New information is being released about the deadly shooting inside the Rally's location in Hampton this past fall.
It happened on the day before Thanksgiving in 2023, leaving a 17-year-old employee dead and a suspect on the run for months.
Police officials said Elijah James-Sanders, 25, of Newport News turned himself in to Hampton police on Monday, days after U.S. Marshals announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Based on court records, James-Sanders faces the following charges in connection to the killing of a 17-year-old Rally's employee.
- Second-degree murder
- Burglary with intent to commit assault and battery while armed with a deadly weapon
- Use of a firearm in commission of a felony
- Discharge of a firearm in an occupied dwelling
- Wearing a mask in public
According to newly filed court documents, James-Sanders is accused of going into the fast-food restaurant on West Mercury Boulevard with a gun on his hip on Nov. 21.
He allegedly asked about someone's work schedule and then left. The criminal complaint provided to 13News Now was redacted, to not include the name of the underage victim.
A day later, court documents say surveillance footage shows James-Sanders go into the business with a black mask and "without provocation" go up to the victim.
James-Sanders began punching him, according to the criminal complaint. During the fight, the complaint says James-Sanders' gun fell from his waist and when he reached for it, he shot the victim in the head.
Family members identify the victim as Brian Fullerton. His mother spoke with 13News Now off-camera, remembering her youngest son as a kind, loving, giving and helpful child.
"We were very close," she said.
Brian's mom, who prefers not to be named, holds onto memories she says will last a lifetime.
Brian would've turned 18 years old mere days after the shooting. His mom doesn't know why anyone would kill him.
She recalls feeling so happy and thanking God after learning the suspect turned himself in.
"God is going to fix this one," Brian's mother remembered saying.
James-Sanders had an arraignment scheduled in court on Tuesday morning. He did not want to speak with the media from jail.
Court documents also don't indicate James-Sanders stayed after the shooting or the motivation behind it.
Meanwhile, Hampton police detectives are investigating another homicide at a fast-food restaurant.
Authorities say a former employee at Wingstop near Peninsula Town Center shot and killed 29-year-old Travell Giles on Valentine's Day.
Friends told 13News Now Giles also worked there.
According to a police spokesman on Tuesday, the suspect in that case has not yet been arrested.