Long Neck, Ford and Knotty

It was your decision to embrace the "Thug Life" yet somehow your "Street Name" became "Long Neck" and not because of the beer you like. 

Khanahnai Coleman Photo Courtesy MCSO

At that point you might think maybe it's time to step back and reconsider my life choices?

Follow along and see if you notice the pattern. 

Khanahnai Coleman aka "Long Neck" was busted by CMPD on January 24, 2024 for 

1. AWDW SERIOUS INJURY 

2. ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON 

3. GUN ETC ON EDUC PROP 

4. DISCHARGE FIREARM IN CITY  

He shot a woman in Charlotte's Cherry neighborhood. Thankfully she survived. 

Coleman was transported to the Law Enforcement Center and then turned over to the Mecklenburg County Detention Center and was held on $100,000 Bond.

Then in October of 2024 he pled guilty to just the gun on school property charge and is given a suspended sentence plus probation. Only a few days later he is released from the Mecklenburg County Jail.

Fast forward 5 months and on February 20, 2025 Rashaad Joshua Sinclair, age 27 is murdered on Lucena Street in the Druid Hills neighborhood just north of Uptown. 

Rashaad Joshua Sinclair Photo Courtesy MCSO

Sinclair was a known felon with prior convictions for drugs in Gaston County in fact back on September 27, 2024 he was charged with:

MAINTAINING PLACE TO KEEP CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

ASSAULT ON A FEMALE

MISDOMENIOR CRIME OF DOMECTIC  VIOLENCE

UNAUTHORIZED USE OF MOTOR VEHICLE

TRAFFICKING, OPIUM OR HEROIN

POSSESS STOLEN FIREARM

POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY FELON

PWISD MARIJUANA

RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER

TRAFFICKING, OPIUM OR HEROIN (2 Counts)

POSSESS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

He was held until October 30, 2024 just 32 days and then is released on an unsecured bond by Mecklenburg County Judge Roy Wiggins.

Charloot rolls on to a new year and by February 20th 2025 Sinclair is violating the terms of his release and is riding in a car driven by the Tanisha Stephens.

In the car with Stephens, and after 9 pm Sinclair is shot dead. Stephens is uninjured.

The shooter is later ID'd as "Long Neck". 

The CMPD Affidavit: 

On Thursday, February 20th, 2025, at 2109hrs, officers in the Metro division responded to 2435 Lucena Street in reference to an ADW/Inj call for service. The 911 caller advised subject was shot in vehicle in the parking lot The victim (Rashaad Sinclair) was located in vehicle and pronounced deceased on scene at 2115 by MEDIC Carter. 

This case is being investigated as homicide under complaint numbers 20250220210900.

Detectives interviewed witness who is known to law enforcement. She stated she was with the victim the entire night and they went over to Lucena Street to conduct a drug transaction with male she knew as "Long Neck." 

When they arrived, she was seated in the front passenger seat, the victim was in the driver's seat, and "Long Neck" got into the rear passenger seat behind the Victim. 

While they were there two males walked up and spoke to "Long Neck" in the back of the vehicle. She stated that "Long Neck" knew the males and called them by name. "Long Neck" said to the males that the victim would sell them drugs as well. 

The two males then pulled out guns and told the victim to give them everything. They then shot the victim and left the scene. 

"Long Neck" also exited the vehicle and fled with the males. "Long Neck" then returned and took the victim's bag off of him which contained the victim's drugs and money. "Long Neck" again then fled in the direction of the two unknown males

Detectives spoke with a person known to law enforcement. That person stated that Kadarian Ford was involved in the murder and this murder was result of drug territory dispute. Kadarian Ford was arrested on outstanding charges related to drug sale and probation volitions.(But not murder charges).

Detectives applied for and were granted a search warrant for Ford's cellphone. 

During review of the cellphone's contents detectives found voice message few hours after the murder from Ford stating that there was robbery involving "Knotty", which is the victims nickname, and that Coleman ("Long Neck") was involved in the robbery and got shot during the incident. He stated (further) that he then took Coleman to the hospital.

A short time after the murder, a male arrived at CMC main hospital emergency room with gunshot wound to the shoulder. He told patrol officers that he was shot off of Graham St. 

Officers were able to determine that this was related to the above murder. Detectives spoke to the male identified as Khanahnai Coleman ("Long Neck")who provided a statement. 

He stated that he was with the victim earlier in the evening and was there to purchase drugs. He stated that during the transaction there was robbery, and he was shot. He stated that he then found someone to drive him to the hospital. 

He denied any involvement in the shooting or (the) robbery. 

Detectives were able to determine that Coleman and "Long Neck" were the same person. Coleman did have large amount of cash on him during an examination of his clothing.

Detectives reviewed CMC main hospital footage, and it shows Coleman being dropped off at the emergency room which matches the message and Coleman's statement.

Based on this information there is probable cause to arrest Khanahnai Coleman for Armed Robbery with dangerous weapon and first-degree murder.

Kadarian (Kadarrien) Ford has not been charged in the murder of "Knotty" Rashaad Sinclair. The drug and probation charges were dropped.

Kadarian (Kadarrien) Ford Photo Courtesy MCSO

Knotty was known by his family as Shaad

Obituary:

Rashaad Joshua “Shaad” Sinclair was born on January 20, 1997, in Charlotte, North Carolina to Reginald E. and Tisha L. Sinclair. He departed this life February 20, 2025. He was educated in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System where he graduated from Mallard Creek High School in 2016.

Shaad was great at all sports during his early childhood. He played baseball, basketball, and developed into a great football player in high school. He could spend hours watching his favorite professional sports, basketball and football. After high school, he began his working career at UPS as a dock worker. He also worked at Amazon as a package handler, and later as a courier driver. But all that life surrendered to Shaad, everyone that knew him would resoundingly agree, he was a “mama’s boy... there was nothing he thought his mother’s love couldn’t cure. 

Cedar's Take"

"Long Neck" Remains behind bars at the Mecklenburg County Jail awaiting trial for the murder of "Knotty". 

His trial date has not be set. His next court date is October 10th for an administrative hearing. 

Coleman's (Long Neck) jail status is here.