Man arrested in West Virginia after Salem shooting, Blacksburg carjacking extradited back to Virginia

SALEM, Va. (WFXR) — The man facing numerous charges — including felony murder — after being accused of shooting another man in a Salem parking lot and stealing a car in Blacksburg has been extradited back to Virginia following his arrest in West Virginia.

Police say dispatch received a call shortly before 2 p.m. on Nov. 9 about a man being shot at the Lakeside Plaza shopping center in Salem.

The victim — identified as 27-year-old Rico A. Turner of Bedford — was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, but according to officials, he died later that night.

As a result of Turner’s death, Zane Chandler Christian of Christiansburg faces a felony murder charge. The Salem Police Department has also charged Christian with malicious wounding, reckless handling of a firearm, and three counts of child neglect.

Blacksburg Police are also working with the Salem Police Department due to a connection between Christian and a carjacking that happened near the Virginia Tech campus on Nov. 9.

According to the U.S. Marshals, information was developed that Christian had fled to the area of Charleston, West Virginia. With assistance from the U.S. Marshals Task Force out of the Southern District of West Virginia, officials say Christian was quickly arrested in Ravenswood, West Virginia, without incident on Nov. 10.

Court documents reveal Christian will be arraigned in Salem General District Court the morning of Monday, Nov. 30, in relation to the shooting death of Turner.

Then, on Tuesday, Dec. 1, Christian will reportedly be in Montgomery and Christiansburg General District Court with regard to the carjacking incident.

Latest Stories