Incarceration Saves Lives

On Tuesday, June 24, 2025 – shortly before 7:30 p.m., officers responded to an Assault with a Deadly Weapon Call for Service in the 1900 block of Milton Road. The investigation revealed that one individual had sustained a gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased at the scene by MEDIC.

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) Homicide Unit began their investigation with the help of crime scene technicians, who remained on site well after dark.  

Dontre Lamar Williams Photo Courtesy MCSO

By dawn on the 25th the only signs of police activity left are the crime scene tape and a CMPD Ford Explorer parked in the far corner of the parking lot. Later someone would place a bouquet of flowers near a discarded Deer Park water bottle just outside of the crime scene tape.

By noon the victim had been identified by local media as Dontre Lamar Williams age 24. But CMPD would never update their original CMPD NewsRoom posting. Apparently only high profile cases get follow-up public announcements that name the victim.

"Tre" as he was known by family and friends was remembered as "a good boy". 

“Loving father, great friend and great person to be around,” Camari Simpson said after setting the flowers down. "You could call him if you need anything."

A former teacher recalled Williams as kind.

"I do know he was one of the kids that always did the right thing and I know he loved his family very much," Jeremy Cox said.

On "X" someone claiming to be his mother posted the following:

Jul 9

"this is my son, and we are grieving.  the negative comments come from ignorant ppl who don't do research before posting about something they know nothing about. he was not the target. he was not a troublemaker.  he lived there and had  friends there. that could have been anyone."

Fast Mart #3 1900 Milton Road

CMPD background on 1900 Milton Road:

On February 28th, 2025, at 1632 hours, made loitering complaint numbers for 1900 Milton Road (Fast Mart #3). 1900 Milton Road (Fast Mart #3)

The location is known for loitering, high drug activity and multiple shootings. There is high volume of call for services for multiple subjects loitering for the purposes of sales and distribution of narcotics. 

Four Individuals Gather on Joyce Drive at the Entrance to Fast Mart #3

Google Image December 2024

Officers have conducted citizen contacts and zone checks in the immediate area to avoid and prevent on-going issues that are arising from 1900 Milton Road (Fast Mart #3). 

Fast Mart # 3  sign reads 

These premises are being electronically monitored for illegal activities

Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Owner of Fast Mart has expressed major concerns of the on-going issues of multiple subject loitering in front of his business and disturbing customers as they enter the PVA of 1900 Milton Road. This has led to Officers making traffic stops, multiple reports and arrests. In light of recent criminal activity rising such as shootings between two known gangs, North Tryon Police Division has been directed to show more presence in the area of 1900 Milton Road to try and deter criminal activity from increasing and to avoid innocent citizens from getting seriously injured. 

Fast Mart # 3 Street Dealers Captured By Google

Arrest Report 

On February 28th, 2025, was conducting surveillance on 1900 Milton Road and observed several individuals at the corner of Joyce Drive, right before the intersection at Milton Road. 

These are the same subjects who consistently loiter and congregate (at) the street for the purpose of selling and distributing narcotics to individuals and/or vehicles. observed multiple vehicles enter the PVA of 1900 Milton Road and the known subjects to approach each vehicle and extend their arms inside of each vehicle, which appears to be hand to hand transaction. Through training and experience from this particular area patrol, these known subjects are drug dealers, who intend to sell and deliver to their customers or use their phones to communicate and facilitate their drugs to another area to avoid police contact. 

In addition, there were multiple individuals who went inside the Fast Mart#3, exit the store and then, either wait for one of the known subjects to approach them or they will walk up to the known subjects, to either buy or sell narcotics.

Then conducted two traffic stops to further investigate under these two complaint numbers, 20250228152901 and 20250228154400, respectively.

20250228152901 - observed red CHEVROLET HHR parked at the entrance of 1900 Milton Road and Joyce Drive. Observed two black males approach the driver side window, one of the black males extended their arms inside the vehicle and then took them out, which appeared to be hand-to-hand transaction. 

Moments later, the two black males walked away and the drive exited the PVA of 1900 Milton Road. 

(I) got behind the observed vehicle and conducted traffic stop. The female driver admitted the black male was asking and attempting to sell and deliver her narcotics or "something to smoke". 

(I) asked the female to describe who was trying to sell and deliver her narcotics and she advised black male, short, w / dreadlocks, possibly wearing white shirt.

20250228154400 observed black GMC ACA parked and idle in front of 1900 Milton Road (Fast Mart #3). Observed multiple subjects approach the vehicle on the driver side. 

One subject extended his arms inside and then took them out, which appeared to be hand-to- hand transaction. Moments later, the subjects walked away and placed their hands inside their pockets and the observed vehicle exited the PVA of 1900 Milton Road. 

(I) conducted (a) traffic stop on the observed vehicle. The female driver admitted ta buying and purchasing marijuana from the subjects. asked her to described the subject and she advised black male, short, approximately 5'4, wearing white shirt, black pants and has red hat with white designs. 

Recognized subject who matched the description from earlier when drove through the area of 1900 Milton Road. 

(I) seized the marijuana from the female subject.

Based on the totality of the circumstances, the above facts and prior knowledge of this area, arrested and charged WILLIAMS, DONTRE with PWISD Marijuana (4.34g). 

The suspect was still standing on the corner of Joyce Drive, when Police arrived and was wearing the exact clothing description the driver of the traffic stop confessed to officers. 

During search incident to arrest, the subject had $40 cash on his person and cell phone. Moments before Police arrived on-scene, through surveillance, the suspect was observed walking down Milton Road on the sidewalk and met with two other black male subjects.

The suspect took something out of his pockets and extended his arms to the other subject, who was wearing sweatshirt. 

Through training and experience, drug dealers have "foot soldiers", who sit and stand on the street and sell and deliver narcotics and then attempt to either 're-up" in sales or give up what they sold throughout the day to other members in their group.

Dontre Williams was booked into the Mecklenburg County Detention Center on February 28, 2025 at 23:47 (11:47 PM) and was released on March 1, 2025 at 19:58 (7:68 PM) after posting bail. his cash out of pocket expense was $350.00

The following evening Williams likely returned to his usual spot at the Fast Mart #3.

Ten Days Later

On March 10, 2025 the case against Dontre Lamar Williams was dropped.

The Mecklenburg County Assistant DA  Mary S. Elledge signed the following statement:

"At this time, the lab does not have the capacity to sufficiently test the THC level in the substance in order to negate the possibility the substance is legal hemp/CBD. Given this, the likelihood of success at trial is minimal. In the interest of judicial efficiency, the State elects not to proceed under these circumstances."

In March during the Carolina Spring, life is sweet, flowers begin to bloom, birds sing and people are out and about as the days are getting longer. Business over at the Fast Mart # 3 is as brisk as the spring breeze that blows across the parking lot.

The store as nearly as many customers as the guys on the sidewalk nearby.

A CMPD cruiser rolls into the Fast Mart # 3 parking lot. The young black men standing together laugh, high five and fist bump each other pointing towards the marked CMPD unit.  

They all believe that Dontre is a hero "F CMPD" is their motto and yet they don't realize that Dontre Lamar Williams has less than 4 months to live. 

Cedar's Take:

Incarceration saves lives. The Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office is either incompetently run or viscously mediocre and incessantly liberal. With zero incentive to prosecute criminals and no ability to reign in violence because they can not even obtain convictions on slam dunk charges.

Had Williams been held until trial and perhaps convicted, he might have changed the direction of his life and would certainly be alive today. 

Not one of the reported six prior arrests resulted in a conviction, not because he was found not guilty but because the case was dismissed. 

CMPD Officers are doing their jobs but the courts, judges, district attorney's office and our elected officials are killing our citizens, our children and our city.

MIlton Road at one time was solid middle class, white and safe. But Charlotte City Council allowed endless rezoning petitions in a never ending goal of density saturation and crazy amounts of multi family housing. The result was moderately priced home values collapsed. Then white Charlotte fled and east Charlotte became the hood. 

Look the other way policing doesn't work, zoning should not be changed on the whims of developers and Charlotte City Council members and the mayor should be term limited.