ACTION 8 UPDATE: Two arrests made in shooting outside Selma Walmart

The Walmart in Selma was the scene of a fatal shooting in the parking lot on Friday, January 31, 2025 — Photo from WAKA Action 8 News

ACTION 8 UPDATE: Two arrests have been made in the fatal shooting outside of the Selma Walmart.

The announcement of the arrests came from the office of Mayor James Perkins, Jr. Information about the suspects hasn’t yet been released.

As Action 8 News has reported, 40-year-old Marcus Martin was shot as he sat in his truck in the Walmart parking lot Friday night. He died at the scene.

Lt. Ray Blanks of the Selma Police Department said yesterday that investigators would use video footage from the store to try to identify the suspects. It is not yet known if the video played a role in making the arrests.

Blanks says Martin was an innocent bystander who got caught in the crossfire of a shooting that stemmed from an argument he had nothing to do with.

“Individuals got into some type of altercation inside the store. That altercation spilled out into the parking lot and that’s when the shooting occurred,” Blanks said.

“This was an isolated incident,” Walmart store manager James Packard III said. “I’ve been the store manager here for eight years and this is the first incident of that nature.”

Mayor Perkins said Martin would not be forgotten.

We all know Marcus to be an excellent talent who served well in the faith community as a musician. He will be missed!” Perkins said in a statement.

Packard says the safety of Walmart customers is the first and foremost concern at the store. He said shoppers can expect an increased police presence at the store, both inside and out.