Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

An argument over stolen fried chicken led to a Walmart employee getting shot on Sunday, Pineville police said. 

Pineville police responded to a reported shooting at the Walmart on Pineville-Matthews Road around 6:30 p.m. this past Saturday January 28, 2024. 

When officers arrived, they found an employee who had been shot in the leg and learned that the whole incident apparently started over a self-checkout dispute. 

Jonathan Alan Smith Photo Courtesy MCSO

According to Pineville detectives, a Walmart employee noticed that Jonathan Alan Smith didn't scan some fried chicken and dog food while checking out. The employee confronted Smith, who then scanned the dog food but did not pay for the chicken, investigators claimed. 

Smith and the employee then got into an argument that led to a brief fight that was broken up by a group of employees. 

Smith was apparently Jonesing for that Fried Chicken and allegedly returned to the store a short time later with a gun, according to Pineville police. 

Smith is accused of entering the store and confronting multiple employees before another fight broke out. The gun fell out of Smith's pocket, leading to the employees and Smith struggling to control the weapon. The gun then went off, shooting one of the employees in the knee. 

Smith was arrested at the store and charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and larceny of the Fried Chicken in question. 

The employee was treated for their injuries and is expected to be OK, according to police. 

Not wanting any further trouble out of Smith, Pineville Officers confiscated the weapon but let Smith keep the stolen bucket of Fried Chicken.

Smith is being held in the Mecklenburg County Jail under a $10,000.00 secured bond. But I'd expect he'll be out in time to hit Popeyes on the way home. Y'all been warned because next time Smith may just try for the whole damn tray.

Good Fried Chicken will make a man do crazy stuff. 

26 Year Old Diana Perez-Barrera Murdered

More than a week ago Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police responded to a call for service at Turquoise Drive in CMPD's Hickory Grove Division around 6 a.m. on Friday January 19th.

Since then police have released the name of the woman who was shot and killed as Diana Perez-Barrera ago 26.

Diana Perez-Barrera

According to CMPD she was pronounced dead at the scene when police arrived.

A CMPD incident report said the unknown male suspect who shot Perez-Barrera demanded money and moved her and another victim, a 21-year-old man, around the home at gunpoint. 

The suspect shot Perez-Barrera, kidnapped and transported the male victim in the male victim’s vehicle, took him to a second location on Rozzelles Ferry Road, where he “committed other incidents” and stole the male victim’s vehicle, the report said. 

CMPD Crime Scene Investigations was videotaped at 7921 Turquoise Drive which is off Plott Road near Plaza Road Extension. 

9721 Turquoise Drive Charlotte, NC 

The home is owned by Hanh T. Vo. Neighbors say it is rental property owned by Vo since for at least 8 years. 

According to a police report, the victims did not know the suspect. The area while not immune to crime is not really a hotspot for criminal activity. Most the homes in the area are modest single family older homes with kids playing in the street and well cared for yards.

CMPD spokesperson Michael Allinger said Monday that while the male victim was originally reported as being kidnapped, he is not currently missing. The investigation is active and ongoing.

The investigation into this case is active and ongoing. As additional information develops, it will be released by the CMPD’s Public Affairs Office. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit detective. Detective D. Haulsee is the lead detective assigned to this case. The public can also leave information anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or http://charlottecrimestoppers.com/. For additional information about this case, please refer to the report: 20240119-0554-00.

Cedar's Take: Something is just off. 

First no description of the suspect. 

Second this murder has zero media interest. With no more than 3 column inches given in the local paper and nothing more than a 30 second sound bite on WCNC and other television news outlets. 

Third this is a "home invasion" a random act of extreme violence and the perp has not be arrested or identified.

Fourth nothing further on the victim. 165 candles on Gun Violence yet no obituary no gofundme or memorial page.

What's in a Name? South Charlotte Rapist Santerius Qwayshaw

Santerius Qwayshawn Allen is a violent repeat offender that should not have been lose on Charlotte Streets. But nevertheless he broke into a South Charlotte woman’s home through a window and raped her yesterday. The woman’s teenage daughter was inside during the attack and was able to call 911.

The attack happened shortly after 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, at a home located in the 10200 block of Chivalry Drive in south Charlotte. This in the Cady Lake subdivision just of Tom Short and south of I-485 beltway and not Ballantyne as many local media are reporting.

As CMPD officers arrived at the house, they heard a woman screaming inside and immediately made entry and took the suspect, identified as Allen, into custody.

The woman’s daughter who called 911 was not harmed during this attack, police said.

Allen has been charged with felony breaking and entering, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree kidnapping, second-degree rape, second-degree sex offense, sexual battery, and assault on a woman.

Allen is a convicted felon with a violent history outside of the Charlotte area, CMPD said. 

Allen has spent nearly 8 years in prison for offenses. His past arrests include nearly a dozen charges ranging from assault, stolen auto, stolen property, malicious conduct, assault on a corrections official, assault on a probation officer.  He was paroled in 2022 but arrested five times for violating the conditions of his parole. His past criminal history covers both Cleveland and Gaston counties.

Allen has his first court appearance Thursday morning at 10 a.m. He is currently being held without bond.

Beyond his skin color Santerius Qwayshawn is obviously burdened by his given name. Therefore he is clearly beyond rehabilitation regardless of what the liberals appointed to the parole board by our Democrat Governor and Attorney General Josh Stein think. Hopefully today the judge will keep this POS behind bars and hold him for trial as a habitual felon.

Hotel McFadden Where You Can Check Out Anytime You Like

 But you can never leave....

According to a local new report a convicted felon was taken into custody by Mecklenburg County deputies on Friday night. On Saturday morning, he was found dead in his housing unit.

George Wesley Benfield, 43, was arrested and processed Friday night at 8:17 p.m. for charges of violating parole and stealing a vehicle.

He was moved to the detention center in Uptown around 1:45 a.m.The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office announced he was found unresponsive in his housing unit around 3:09 a.m. on Saturday.

Both MEDIC and Charlotte Fire Department attempted life-saving measures. Benfield was pronounced dead at Atrium Main just after 4 a.m.

“Announcing the news of a resident’s passing is always a challenge and remains a consistently difficult task,” said Sheriff McFadden. “Our hearts go out to Mr. Benfield’s family. May they find strength and comfort during this difficult time.”

The State Bureau of Investigation and the MCSO are conducting in-custody death investigations. The county medical examiner is working to determine the cause of death.

Benfield had a long record criminal record dating back 25 years in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties. Most charges were low level felonies and misdemeanors. 

Cedar's Take: Benfield had the sort of record that just makes you smile and shake your head. Just a nonconformist who clearly looked the part. Pulled the police report from the Iredell County arrest, and I nearly spit my coffee. God just created some of us different or as my grandmother would say "that boy ain't right". RIP George Benfield.

3 Homicides with Week One of 2024

Charlotte's never ending black violence - From CMPD:

Monday January 8th - Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit are conducting a homicide investigation in 2400 block of North Tryon Street in the Metro Division. 

On Monday, January 8, 2024, at approximately 2:10 a.m., Metro Division officers responded to an assault with a deadly weapon with injury call for service near the 2400 block of North Tryon Street. Upon arrival, officers located a male victim with an apparent gunshot wound.  The Charlotte Fire Department and Medic also responded to the scene.  Medic transported the victim to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.A teenager was shot and killed during a party in northwest Charlotte on Sunday morning, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said. An 18-year-old has been charged in the case.

Sunday January 7th - CMPD Officers went to a house on West Trade Street near the Brookshire Freeway just before 5 a.m. Sunday, where they found 17-year-old Avyon Titus Thomas. Thomas had been shot at the home and died at the scene, authorities said.

Myers Park High School FaceBook post read: “We are deeply saddened to share that Avyon Thomas, a senior here at our school, died early this morning while at a gathering. His passing is a tragedy. Avyon was a loyal friend to his peers and a caring and loving child. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Avyon’s mother, grandmother, family, and friends,” the statement reads.

The suspect in this case has been identified as Jamir Easter (DOB: 10/18/2005).  Mr. Easter turned himself in at the Law Enforcement Center in Uptown (601 E. Trade St.).  Mr. Easter was then interviewed by homicide detectives.  At the conclusion of the interview, Mr. Easter was arrested and transferred into the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.

Easter was released on bond Sunday and was expected in court on Monday.

Thursday January 4th - The victim in this case has been identified as Ganiyu Ibrahim (DOB: 01/28/1969).  The victim’s next of kin has been notified of his death.

Detectives with the CMPD’s Homicide Unit identified a 16-year-old juvenile suspect in connection to this case.  The suspect turned themselves in at the incident scene and was then transported to the Law Enforcement Center in Uptown (601 E. Trade St.) to be interviewed by detectives.  At the conclusion of the interview, detectives obtained a secure custody order and transported the suspect to a Juvenile Detention Facility in Cabarrus County and charged the juvenile with first degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Tariq Bokhari Charlotte City Council Member OK with Rich / White Violence

Earlier this week Carolina Panther owner David Tepper was fined $300,000.00 by the NFL for his drink toss. His angry violent outburst was apparently directed at a Jacksonville Jaguars fan who was taunting him from in front of his assigned skybox window. 

We have no indication of what the JAX fan was saying but are pretty sure he wasn't quoting Shakespeare. 

The NFL was quick to slap Tepper's wrist with the modest fine. No doubt pocket change for Tepper and the equivalent of about 3 bucks to most of us regular people. 

Tepper would later release a non-apology statement.

This was followed up by Charlotte City Council member Tariq Bokari taking to "X" and supporting Tepper.

Now it's no real surprise that Council member Tariq Bokari @FinTechInnov8r would approve of the City’s biggest clown David Tepper throwing his drink at a Jacksonville fan. Bokari is a rabid leghumper of anyone with a big income, nice house or greater than six figure net worth.

Bokhari's use of colorful curse words like shitting and crap are beneath the office he holds and is an embarrassment to our once well thought of southern city as much as Tepper's hubris self entitled behavior. 

But his timing is reflective of what a true a narcist he seems to be. 

Hours prior he was grandstanding his condemnation of "street violence" promising to do anything and everything to take on the impotent judges and courts. He was going to single handedly make a firm stand against a lazy justice system to put a stop to the sort of violence we saw during Sunday's New Year's Eve celebrations Uptown.

Apparently in his play book if you are a white team owner with a net worth in the billions its ok to get violent because after all you are just passionate and you are worth billions. But if you are a 16 year old black street thug we are coming for you!

 

So beware street thugs your property crimes like graffitti and larceny from autos will not be tolerated. Best not spill your drink Uptown or heaven forbid urinate on Tryon Street because we will have a task force!

And to the rest of you in South Charlotte who elected this clown, just remember you elected him so don’t cry when he gives millions to Tepper and puts 12 year olds in prison for sidewalk art.