South Charlotte Murder Suspects Pled Guilty Get Less Than 10 years Average

According to a local media reports Thursday was the end of a year and a half wait for justice in the murder of Zackary Rieken.

Zackary Rieken Age 18 Photo Courtesy Gun Violence Memorial

The 18 year old was murdered in South Charlotte near the Blakeney Shopping Center off of Rea Road in an area that was once considered void of violent crime.

On the fifth floor of the Mecklenburg County courthouse, family members filled a room on Thursday as three young men pled guilty to a teenager’s murder from eighteen months earlier.

Zackary Rieken was shot on Oct. 26, 2024 in south Charlotte during what prosecutors say was a marijuana deal that turned into a deadly robbery.

In doorbell camera video of the murder, a gunshot is heard before the car Rieken is driving crashes. Four people are seen running and get into a car that leaves the scene; Rieken was pronounced dead of a single gunshot wound.

“He mattered,” his mother told Judge Carla Archie through tears. “His life mattered. He was just 18.”

The three men charged in his murder were teenagers at the time, prosecutors said Sanjie Johnson, then 18, pulled the trigger; he pled guilty to 2nd-degree murder and was sentenced to a minimum of 13 years.

Sanjie Johnson Photo Courtesy MCSO 

Jeremiah Childers, then 17, helped set up the deal, prosecutors said. He also pled guilty to 2nd-degree murder and got a minimum of about 10.5 years.

Jeremiah Childers Photo Courtesy MCSO 

Prosecutors said Maximillian Ruggiero, 18, both helped set up the deal and drove the getaway car.

Maximillian Ruggiero Photo Courtesy MCSO

“I am going to urge you that for the rest of your days on this planet you find a way to honor the life that you helped take,” Judge Archie told Ruggiero. “Because you knew him.”

Maximillian Ruggiero pled guilty to a lesser charge, and a shorter minimum sentence: 5.5 years.

“I have very little anger for these boys, and that’s what they are: boys in men’s bodies,” Zackary’s father said in court. “The sentence we’re talking about here, 5 years? It’s not justice. It’s mercy."

(CP Note: Ruggiero and the others will get credit for the 16 months they have already spent in jail. Meaning Ruggiero will be back on the streets in a little more than 3 years.)

Childer’s mother was also in court and spoke publicly to the judge, expressing her sorrow to Zackary’s family.

“A lot of lives have been lost today,” she said.

But she said she had unanswered questions about her son’s sentence compared to Ruggiero’s -- as well as why only three people, of the four people seen on camera getting into the getaway car, were ultimately charged in the case.

“My son does take accountability and is responsible for being there,” she said. “But I just think it is sad that Zackary had to lose his life due to all this, and that everybody that was involved is not being charged.”

(CP Note: The thug who wasn't charged is the one who cooperated with CMPD and ID'd the others. His name has been redacted from the court records. His statement to police was he didn't know the others were going to rob Rieken. He is the cooperating witness)

Zackary was killed just four months after he graduated high school, his mother said. She described him as full of life, loving music and laughter.

“The truth is I don’t know how to do life without my son. Even the simplest question, ‘How many children do you have?’ now takes the wind out of me.”

Cedar's Take: Childer's mother is an idiot. They each should have been given life sentences. Even a second degree murder charge carries a penalty of 40 years. Her POS Spawn will be out in 9 years. She should be on her knees thanking a liberal judge and a spineless DA who allowed him to pled to just two charges. 

Every one of these POS will be back on the streets before Rieken would have turned 30 and celebrated is second child's 1st Easter. All Carla Archie's sentence does is tell thugs in Charlotte you can kill someone and "if you get caught" your time is easy. 

CMPD Charging Affidavit:

1.) On Friday, October 25, 2024, at 2352 hours, South Division officers responded to 12803 James Blakeney Avenue for an Accident with Personal Injury,

in which vehicle crashed into tree. Officers arrived on. scene, and Medic was on scene treating the victim. Medic found that the victim was suffering from gunshot wound

to his left shoulder. The victim, Zackary Evan Rieken (Zackary) (w/M 04/07/2006), was pronounced deceased on scene by Medic 64, Medic Tyler Mitchell, at 0005 hours.

2.) Detectives are conducting Murder investigation in violation of N.C.G.S. 417 under CMPD Report 20241025-2352-05.

3.) Detectives spoke with witness, who provided video surveillance from nearby residence. The video footage shows the victim' vehicle, white Jeep Wrangler with NC License Plate TKI5474, parked along James Blakeney Avenue. 

Five suspects are seen in the video footage. Three of the five suspects approach the victim's driver's side window. One of the suspects that approaches the victim' vehicles white male wearing red hoodie, light colored undershirt, and black shorts. Shortly after, suspect in all black clothing and white shoes, fires single gunshot into the victim's vehicle, which is in motion. 

The suspects then run back to a white Mercedes-Benz SUV, which has sunroof and silver roof rack; and flee the scene.

4.) Detectives identified juvenile J.C. (J.C.) (17) and charged him with First Degree Murder and Discharging Barreled Weapon or Firearm into an Occupied Dwelling or Occupied Conveyance in Operation. The suspect was in possession of 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 drug transaction. Detectives found text message from J.C. to another subject stating he was "Waitin to rob the Plug", shortly before the murder.

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

LCB1898, and VIN: 4JGDA5JB8DA258385. On 10/29/2024, detectives found the vehicle parked in front of 10012 Juniper Trace Drive, Charlotte, NC 28277. 

Detectives spoke with cooperating witness, who was present during the time of the offense. The witness stated that he knew the victim to sell marijuana, and he provided JC with the victim's information, because JC wanted to purchase marijuana from the victim. The witness stated that was in communication with the victim leading up to the murder. 

The witness 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 firearm at the time.

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

7.) Detectives identified Sanjie Johnson (B/M, 04/08/2006) as "Jay Banz".

8.) Based on the facts obtained during the investigation, there is probable cause that First Degree Murder and Discharging Barreled Weapon or Firearm into an Occupied Dwelling or Occupied Conveyance in Operation occurred and Sanjie Johnson (B/M, 04/08/2006) committed these offenses.

Sanjie Johnson

1. SECOND DEGREE MURDER

Superior Guilty - Judge

2. DIS WEAP OCC DWELL/MOVING VEH

VD-Superior Dismissals w/o Leave by DA - Per Plea Agreement

3. ATT ROBBERY-DANGEROUS WEAPON

VD-Superior Dismissals w/o Leave by DA - Per Plea Agreement

4. CONSP ROBBERY DANGRS WEAPON

Superior Guilty - Judge

Jeremiah Childers

1. SECOND DEGREE MURDER

Superior Guilty - Judge

2. CONSP ROBBERY DANGRS WEAPON

Superior Guilty - Judge

Maximillian Ruggiero

1. FIRST DEGREE MURDER

VD-Superior Dismissals w/o Leave by DA - Per Plea Agreement

2. ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON

VD-Superior Dismissals w/o Leave by DA - Per Plea Agreement

3. CONSP ROBBERY DANGRS WEAPON

VD-Superior Dismissals w/o Leave by DA - Per Plea Agreement

4. DIS WEAP OCC DWELL/MOVING VEH

VD-Superior Dismissals w/o Leave by DA - Per Plea Agreement

5. ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT TO 2ND DEGREE MURDER (B2)

Superior Guilty - Judge