Murder Charges Against Maya Jena Jones Dropped

Murder charge against Maya Jena Jones in the stabbing death of her boyfriend Sharmaree Dezmond Bell-Brown was quietly dismissed at month.

Jones was released from custody by the Mecklenburg County Sheriff on August 1, 2025 after the charge of murder was dismissed. The Mecklenburg DA felt they did not have a case and could not proceed.

Jones was living at the home of her boyfriend's mother when she stabbed Bell - Brown in the chest with a kitchen knife.

In Charlotte justice is scarce, a hard commodity to obtain, in part due to the local media's emphasis on the latest sensational stories rather than follow up news. Perhaps in part to the fact that they are also controlled by their media partner the City of Charlotte Mayor's Office?

Police Affidavit

On Monday, March 24, 2025, at 0150 hours, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers responded to 3419 Burkland Drive, Apartment in reference to an Assault with Deadly Weapon with Injury call for service. 

The 911 caller stated that his brother was stabbed. The victim, Shamaree Dezmond Bell-Brown (Brown) (B/M, 08/21/2004), was found to be suffering from apparent stab wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased at 0228 hours by Dr. Nowak at Novant Presbyterian Main (Novant). 2.) Detectives are conducting Murder investigation in violation of N.C.G.S. 14-17 under CMPD Report 20250324-0150-01.

Detectives spoke with witness who identified themselves to law enforcement. The witness stated that they were woken up by an occupant in their residence stating that the victim and the defendant were fighting downstairs. 

The witness stated that they observed the victim holding the defendant's arms away from him, and the witness observed kitchen knife in the defendant's hand. The witness stated that they attempted to separate the two, and observed the defendant stab the victim in the chest.

Detectives interviewed the defendant, Maya Jena Jones (Jones) (B/F, 12/21/2004), who voluntarily waived her rights. Jones stated that she got into verbal argument with the victim. Jones stated that she went into the kitchen and grabbed kitchen knife. Jones stated that she struck the victim while she was holding the knife.

Jones stated that the victim began strangling her, so she stabbed him. Jones stated that she attempted to stab the victim more than once.

Jones and the victim are in dating relationship, and Jones is approximately three to four months pregnant.

Based on the facts obtained during the investigation, there is probable cause that First Degree Murder occurred and Maya Jena Jones (Jones) (B/F, 12/21/2004), committed these offenses.

Assistant DA's Reason for dismissal

The undersigned prosecutor provides the following additional information pertaining to the dismissal entered in this case: On March 24, 2025 the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) received call for service for an assault with deadly weapon with injury at 3419 Burkland Drive, Apartment A. 

When CMPD arrived they found 20-year-old Shamaree Bell-Brown suffering from two stab wounds; one to his chest and the other, superficial wound, to his lower back. Shamaree was transported to Novant Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

CMPD processed the scene and located blood on the kitchen floor, blood spatter on the walls and cabinets, and a towel with blood on the kitchen floor. The knife block on the kitchen counter was missing one knife, which was located with blood on the blade on the couch in the living room. There were two cell phones on the couch.

Shamaree's mother, Chenia Brown, stated she was asleep when her 13-year-old son woke her up stating Shamaree and the defendant, Shamaree's girlfriend, were fighting downstairs. 

Ms. Brown stated she went downstairs and in the kitchen. The kitchen light was off, but she saw Shamaree holding both the defendant's wrists above her head. Ms. Brown saw kitchen knife in the defendant's right hand and Shamaree was stating, "Mom, tell her to stop hitting me". Ms. Brown stated she moved between the two and that's when the defendant reached over Ms. Brown and stabbed Shamaree. 

Ms. Brown turned on the kitchen light and saw blood coming from Shamaree. Ms. Brown told her 13-year-old to call 911 and then used towel to try to stop the bleeding. Ms. Brown stated the defendant is always starting physical fights with Shamaree and threatened to stab Shamaree several days prior. 

Ms. Brown stated Shamaree doesn't go around hitting females and that he wasn't aggressive to the defendant at all. She said the only thing Shamaree ever did was fight his 13- year-old brother one time.

A brief initial statement was obtained from the 13-year-old living in the house, but formal therapeutic interview to obtain more detail was declined by Ms. Brown.

The defendant spoke with CMPD on scene and said she was arguing with Shamaree because she did not want Shamaree to touch her. She was pregnant with his child, they started arguing, and Shamaree became aggressive and started choking her. 

The defendant stated she "would've been missing if [she] didn't do it".

At the hospital the defendant told hospital staff she was asleep and woke up to the Shamaree trying to digitally penetrate her. She was

startled and they started to argue. 

She decided to leave, but Shamaree wouldn't let her. She went to the kitchen and said, "I don't want tohurt you". Shamaree was coming at her aggressively, so she slapped him, and he immediately grabbed her and started strangling her. The defendant stated she couldn't breathe, so she tapped him to tell him she couldn't breathe. 

The defendant said Shamaree's mother came downstairs and the sound of his mother on the stairs is what made him stop.

The defendant was also interviewed by homicide detectives at the law enforcement center. She restated much of what she said at the hospital adding she got the knife when Shamaree followed her into the kitchen as she tried to leave. 

She stated she did not recall stabbing Shamaree in the back, and it must have happened while she was swinging her arms while he was choking her. As Shamaree was choking the defendant, they heard Ms. Brown coming down the stairs and that's when he loosened his grip enough for the defendant to stab him. 

The defendant stated that both times she attempted to stab Shamaree, he was choking her. When asked about prior history, the defendant stated that approximately four days earlier similar incident happened when she tried to leave, and Shamaree wasn't letting her. She stated she grabbed knife and told Shamaree she didn't want to hurt him. 

Once she got to the door, she put the knife down and left. She detailed previous history between the two stating Shamaree had previously choked her, but it wasn't this bad. She also witnessed him physically abuse his mother and knew of an incident where Shamaree physically assaulted his little brother, the 13-year-old in the home.

The defendant concluded her statement by saying, if she hadn't done what she did, she would have died.

A review of the D's phones showed clearly volatile relationship between the two where Shamaree told the defendant she had been making him feel aggressive and the defendant berated him for having choked her on previous occasion. 

The two traded insults and it is apparent the relationship was both emotionally and physically abusive.

A review of prior police reports showed several incidents where Ms. Brown reported Shamaree exhibiting violent behavior. 

The reports range in date from July to December 2024 with Ms. Brown detailing Shamaree pushing her, striking her in the eye with gaming

controller, slapping her, throwing chair at his 13-year-old brother striking him in the lip, and throwing Ms. Brown to the ground by her hair and punching her in the face multiple times. The reports also detail Ms. Brown's statements that Shamaree damaged their microwave, television, mirror, gaming console, and kicked the back door.

To prove any charges against the defendant, the State would have to call Ms. Brown to the witness stand. Doing so would open Ms. Brown to cross examination regarding Shamaree's previous assaults and aggressive behavior toward her and his 13-year-old brother. 

The previous assaults documented in police reports corroborate the defendant's statement. Considering, in addition, the domestic violence past between the defendant and Shamaree, including evidence Shamaree previously choked the defendant, the State cannot prove to

jury beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant was not acting in self-defense on March 24, 2025. 

Since the State has the burden of proof and cannot meet that burden, the State cannot proceed. 

Oddly enough the state's charges from the December arrest on Jones identify Jones as the primary aggressor and those charges are still pending.