Granddaughter shoots, kills grandmother in Asheboro on Hamlin Street, family says

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ASHEBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — Two people are dead after a shooting on Hamlin Street in Asheboro, according to an Asheboro Police Department news release.

At 1:15 p.m., Asheboro officers were dispatched to Hamlin Street when they were told about a shooting.

Arriving officers found two victims, later identified as Fatima Anne Alston, 68, of Asheboro, and Tiona Rena Sesmas, 33, of Asheboro, who were both deceased.

Officers at the scene requested Charles W. McCrary ElementarySchool be placed on lockdown since it was close to the scene.

the lockdown was lifted after officers determined there were no additional threats to the community.

The APD says there is not a suspect at-large.

Family members told FOX8 the two were grandmother and granddaughter. They said the granddaughter, Sesmas, shot her grandmother, Alston, and then turned the gun on herself. They claimed mental illness played a role.

“One thing we would never do is hurt anybody, each other,” said Alston’s niece, who didn’t want her name used. “For this to happen, it had to be a serious mental issue going on, and it was. She couldn’t help it. She couldn’t help it anymore…she couldn’t snap back.”

Alston’s niece said Alston and Sesmas had a great relationship.

“She has a lot of grandchildren,” she said. “They came to see her every day. Even her granddaughter that’s laying in there beside her. She came to see her a lot.”

To learn both died in a shooting was hard to wrap her mind around.

“Fatima was a very good person,” her niece said. “Her granddaughter, she loved her so much.”

A 911 call from a neighbor alerted Asheboro authorities to the home on Hamlin Street.

Police tape surrounded the house as investigators went in and out for hours piecing together what happened.

Tensions were high while dozens of family members gathered on West Ward Street throughout the afternoon, crying and yelling.