Police have not said what led to the shooting at the South Miami Boulevard restaurant.
DURHAM, N.C. — Family members have identified the man killed in a shooting inside a Randy’s Pizza in south Durham, as police and court records show a coworker was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death.
The killing, which happened Thu., Feb. 26, has shaken employees and customers at the busy shopping center on South Miami Boulevard and added to renewed attention on gun violence in Durham early in 2026. Investigators have not publicly described a motive, and officials have not said whether the victim and suspect had a prior conflict beyond working at the same restaurant.
Durham police responded to the strip shopping center at 5311 S. Miami Blvd. on Thursday evening. Officers found an adult man with a gunshot wound inside the pizzeria and pronounced him dead at the scene, according to authorities and reporting from the scene. A suspect was taken into custody at the location as police secured the parking lot and worked inside the restaurant.
Relatives later identified the victim as Mohammed Aly, who worked at the Randy’s Pizza location. A visibly upset employee leaving the building told a television crew he “wanted to go home” as police escorted workers out and cleared people from the business. Some employees and witnesses appeared shaken and hugged outside the restaurant while investigators remained inside late into the night.
Court documents filed after the shooting list the defendant as Isaiah Rawlinson, 30, and show he was charged Friday with first-degree murder. Records also describe Rawlinson as a Randy’s Pizza employee. Rawlinson, who is from Morrisville, appeared in court Friday, was appointed a public defender and was ordered held in jail without bond. In court, it was also disclosed that he had no prior convictions.
Investigators have not released a detailed account of what happened inside the kitchen and dining area. Police radio traffic described by reporters included a caller saying someone yelled, “You just killed that guy,” as officers arrived. The restaurant owner told a local outlet that the shooting happened inside the business and that it appeared an argument escalated, but police have not confirmed that sequence publicly or said what sparked the confrontation.
Durham police have not announced whether any additional charges are expected or whether a weapon has been recovered and formally tied to the case through testing. Officials also have not said if surveillance video exists inside the restaurant or in the shopping center that could clarify the moments before the shooting. The department did not immediately provide answers to questions about any relationship between the two men beyond their employment, or whether either had complained about threats or workplace disputes.
Randy’s Pizza said on social media that the Miami Boulevard location would be closed until further notice. In a statement, owner Randy Smith said the company was “heartbroken” by the loss of a team member and offered condolences to Aly’s relatives and loved ones. Smith said the business was cooperating with law enforcement and could not share more details because the case remained under investigation. “This is an unimaginable loss,” Smith said in the posted message.
The closure left a popular dinner stop dark on Friday as customers arrived and found the doors locked. Nearby businesses in the same center said the police response and crime-scene work shut down parts of the property for hours Thursday, cutting into the evening rush. A neighboring business owner told a reporter she canceled more than a dozen orders, including some already prepared, after the center was restricted during the investigation.
City officials have said violence affects more than the immediate victims, especially when shootings happen in commercial areas where employees and customers gather. Durham City Council member Shanette Burris said fear can keep people away from businesses. “If you don’t feel safe, you are not going to want to patronize a business,” Burris said in an interview with a local station.
The killing comes during a stretch when city leaders have emphasized both falling crime totals in 2025 and a recent spike in shootings early in 2026. Police leadership has pointed to declines in robberies and aggravated assaults last year, while noting homicides remained a persistent concern. Mayor Leonardo Williams has called for a broader response focused on youth violence, including street safety teams and community listening sessions, as residents press for results and argue over the city’s approach to public safety tools and staffing.
Rawlinson’s next court appearance is scheduled for March 18, according to court information reported by local media. Prosecutors have not outlined in open court what evidence they plan to present at that hearing, and police have not provided a timeline for releasing more information about the circumstances of the shooting.
For now, the restaurant remains closed while investigators and regulators sort through what happened inside the workplace. A local outlet reported that because the shooting occurred inside a business, workplace safety and health reviews may be required before the pizzeria can reopen.
Author note: Last updated March 2, 2026.