OPELIKA, Ala. – An Opelika man has been arrested on multiple felony charges regarding a shooting that occurred on Friday, October 23, 2026. At approximately 6:42 p.m., Officers responded to a report of a shooting into an occupied vehicle that occurred on Veterans Parkway near Water Street.
According to the victims, a black Ford F-250 began following their vehicle on Highway 280 traveling toward Opelika. The truck repeatedly pulled up alongside their vehicle before dropping back to tail them closely. The victims continued onto Waverly Parkway and then onto Veterans Parkway, with the truck continuing to follow.
As both vehicles approached Water Street, the truck accelerated aggressively toward the victims’ rear bumper.
Moments later, a gunshot was heard. The round shattered the victims’ rear windshield and struck the driver’s-side headrest—directly above where a young child was secured in a car seat. The victims lost sight of the truck near Oak Bowery Road and immediately called 911.
Shortly after the call was dispatched, an officer who had recently traveled along Waverly Parkway reviewed his vehicle’s dashcam footage and confirmed it had captured both the victims’ vehicle and the suspect’s truck. While en route to the police department, the officer spotted the suspect vehicle parked at a residence on North 10th Street.
Additional patrol units responded to the scene, where officers made contact with the registered owner of the vehicle, identified as 46-year-old Benjamin Walker Herndon. Herndon was charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle and attempted assault, first-degree, and booked into the Lee County Jail. The suspected firearm was recovered at Herndon’s residence.
This case remains under investigation. If you have any information, please contact the Opelika Police Department Detective Division at (334) 705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at (334) 745-8665.
Tips can also be submitted via the Opelika Police Mobile App. You may choose to remain anonymous.
