Zachary Evan Reiken Drug Deal Goes "Bad"

The news media often describes certain crimes of violence as "drug deals that went badly". But the truth is a drug deal is already bad. 

And so is the case of Zachary Evan Reiken age 18 who had his life taken via a “drug deal gone bad” on Friday October 25 just before midnight.

According to court records just before midnight CMPD South Division officers responded to 12803 James Blakeney Avenue for an Accident with Personal Injury call.

Upon arrival, officers located a white Jeep that had crashed into a tree. Charlotte Fire and Medic also arrived and began treating a victim in the vehicle who they quickly determined was suffering from a gunshot wound to his left shoulder. The male victim was identified as Rieken.

Shortly after arrival Medic pronounced Rieken deceased at just after midnight.

CMPD Homicide Detectives spoke with witnesses, who provided video surveillance from nearby residence. 

The video footage shows the victim's vehicle, a white Jeep Wrangler with NC License Plates, impacted a tree along James Blakeney Avenue. 

Five suspects can also seen in the video footage.

Neighbors also provided this image of the suspect vehicle with the distinctive Mercedes emblem.

Three of the five suspects approach the Jeep driver’s side window. One of the approaching suspects appears to be a white male wearing red hoodie, light colored undershirt, and black shorts. 

Shortly after that another suspect dressed in a black clothing and white shoes fires single gunshot into the victim's vehicle, which at this time is in forward motion. The suspects then run back towards a white Mercedes-Benz SUV and flee the scene.

Detectives later identified a juvenile age 17 and charged him with First Degree Murder and Discharging Firearm into an Occupied Conveyance in Operation. This suspect was in possession of a blue iPhone at the time of his arrest. The phone was submitted, and forensic analysis was obtained on the phone. Detectives reviewed the phone analysis and found text messages leading up to, and just prior to the murder, between J.C. and the victim, arranging a drug transaction. 

Detectives found text messages from the juvenile. to another subject stating he was "Waitin to rob the Plug", shortly before the murder.

Additionally, Detectives identified the suspect vehicle as a white, 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML350, with a NC license plate. 

On 10/29/2024, detectives located the vehicle parked in front of 10012 Juniper Trace Drive, Charlotte, NC 28277. Detectives spoke with a cooperating witness, who was present during the time of the shooting. The witness stated that he knew the victim to sell marijuana, and provided that he was in communication with the victim leading up to the murder. The witness further stated that another male who he knew by the name of "Jay Banz", and another witness approached the victim's vehicle at the time of the murder. The witness stated that "Jay Banz" was in possession of a firearm at the time.

Sanjie A’Nee Johnson Photo Courtesy MCSO

CMPD Detectives obtained surveillance video of the witness, co-defendant, and "Jay Banz", and the suspect vehicle, just prior to the murder taking pictures in front of the suspect vehicle with the firearm. 

On Thursday, October 31, 2024, detectives spoke with witness, who was present during the time of the offense. The witness identified "Jay Banz" as the one who shot the victim.

CMPD Detectives have since identified Sanjie Johnson a black male DOB 4/8/2026 as "Jay Banz".

Sanjie Johnson aka “Jay Banz” remains in jail as the judge has again refused to grant bail. Johnson’s next court hearing is on November 22 at 1:30 PM.

The common refrain is the weed is harmless. 

A memorial service was held for Reiken on Monday in Weddington.

Reiken was just 18 when he was murdered.