New York Times Crying About Republicans

 

Good morning. Republican legislators are circumventing voters who elected candidates who promised to send fewer people to jail.

Outside the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson.Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

Exercising discretion

A fight has erupted in several states between Republican lawmakers and locally elected Democrats over how to respond to crime.

Democratic district attorneys (often serving cities with many Black and Latino voters) say they are prioritizing serious crimes. In response, Republicans (often representing mostly white and rural areas) have accused them of ignoring criminal law and are making it easier to remove them from office.

Today, I’ll explain what’s happening and why it matters.

The policy fight

Since 2015, dozens of prosecutors promising progressive reforms have taken office across the country. They vowed to send fewer people to prison and reduce the harms to low-income communities that are associated with high incarceration rates.

To achieve that goal, many of these prosecutors said they would use the discretion the law generally allows them to decline to charge categories of crimes, like low-level marijuana offenses. About 90 prosecutors, out of more than 2,000 nationwide, also pledged not to prosecute violations of abortion bans. Many of these prosecutors have been re-elected, a sign of sustained voter support.

Still, conservatives argue that the district attorneys are shirking their duty. Declining to prosecute a particular case is legitimate, they say; ruling out charges for a category of offenses is not. As a Republican legislator in Tennessee put it, “A district attorney does not have the authority to decide what law is good and what law isn’t good.” The conservative Heritage Foundation devotes a section of its website to attacking “rogue prosecutors.”

Challenging local control

In Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and elsewhere, Republican lawmakers have moved to oust or constrain prosecutors and officials who oversee the court system. The Republicans, who largely represent rural areas, are often aiming to thwart voters in cities, including many Black and Latino residents, who elected candidates on platforms of locking up fewer people.

Examples include:

In February, the Mississippi House passed a bill that establishes a new court system in part of the state capital, Jackson, a majority Black city run mostly by Black officials. In the neighborhoods where most of Jackson’s white residents live, the legislation would effectively replace locally elected judges with state-appointed ones and city police with a state-run force. Tennessee lawmakers in 2021 gave the state attorney general the authority to ask a judge to replace local prosecutors in cases in which they refuse to bring charges. Republican lawmakers criticized the district attorney in Nashville, Glenn Funk, who said he would no longer prosecute simple marijuana possession. Funk also said he would not charge businesses that ignored a state law requiring them to post signs saying transgender people could be using single-gender bathrooms. When Deborah Gonzalez, a progressive, ran for district attorney in Athens, Ga., in 2020, Gov. Brian Kemp tried to cancel the election. Kemp lost in court, and Gonzalez won the seat. In Florida last August, Gov. Ron DeSantis ousted Andrew Warren, the elected Democratic prosecutor in the district that includes Tampa, who had pledged not to prosecute offenses related to abortion or transgender health care.

Changing the rules

These actions upend a longstanding tradition of local control over criminal justice. In the 19th century, many states embraced local elections of prosecutors to ensure that they “reflect the priorities of local communities, rather than officials in the state capital,” according to one history. Criminal laws are largely enacted at the state level, and prosecutors, meant to be accountable to their communities, decide how to enforce them.

Since prosecutors lack the resources to bring charges for every arrest, their discretion is a feature of the system. In the past, prosecutors usually used their discretion to act tough on crime. “Now you’re seeing a state effort to subvert the will of local voters who have elected prosecutors who use their discretion for a more compassionate and equitable system,” Marissa Roy, a lawyer for the Local Solutions Support Center, said. “It’s inherently undemocratic.”

The new state bills

In a few states, Republicans are considering legislation that would give them power to remove local prosecutors. Georgia legislators recently passed a bill that would create a commission with the power to remove prosecutors. It awaits Kemp’s signature.

The Missouri House passed a bill to allow the governor to appoint a special prosecutor for violent crimes for five years. The bill was originally written to target St. Louis, where the elected city prosecutor, Kimberly Gardner, is a progressive Black Democrat.

In Texas, dozens of such bills are in play. One, which passed the Texas Senate this week, would bar prosecutors from adopting policies that refrain from prosecuting a type of offense. Another would create a council dominated by political appointees that could refer prosecutors to a trial court to be dismissed for incompetence. Republican supporters of the legislation targeted five district attorneys, from large metropolitan areas, who said they would not prosecute certain offenses, including some related to abortion or transgender medical treatments for minors.

When a new type of legislation pops up in different states, a national policy organization sometimes promotes it. That may be happening with these bills. Last July, a Heritage Foundation staff member met by video with Republican lawmakers about curbing prosecutors’ authority, according to a person familiar with the Texas bills. The legislation became a priority of the Texas House speaker and lieutenant governor. “The Heritage Foundation meets with a variety of people and organizations about public policy topics,” a spokeswoman said.

Given the conservative momentum behind the bills, Roy expects to see more. “All of this is connected to the backlash to the movement for racial justice and criminal justice reform,” she said. Cedar's Take: For years we've heard about racist police and how the "system" targets people of color. As proof activists parade statistics that seem to show a disproportionate number of Black Americans being arrested and incarcerated when compared to the nation as a whole.  (WSOC a Charlotte Television News Station even ran a story a few weeks ago accusing CMS as being racist because a disproportionate number of Black students were being expelled. ) Sadly the reason there are more Black Americans arrested is simply because they unfortunately commit a staggering amount of the crime in this nation. (Ditto for Black Students in Schools) The crimes range from shoplifting to murder to unruly behavior on airlines to attacks on food service staff to murder armed robbery and drug charges. Sure we all laugh at the melee at Popeyes or Waffle House but the people acting up are seldom white. In fact when it is we are collectively surprised. Shootings are routinely Black on Black and often if white people are involved they are the victims and seldom the perps. Sadly the African American Community has become a culture of violence embracing criminality and gun play.  Scroll through facebook, or instagram and there is a avalanche of Black Kids with Guns. Many with not one or even two many have three or more. Why? I had a parent send me 32 screen shots of CMS kids with handguns 29 where Black Kids 2 were Latino and one was I'm guessing Asian. The one photo of a white SouthMeck kid with an AR Style Weapon was also ROTC and a honor student.  Guess which one democrats are concerned about? We can't fix this by blaming the problem on racism or ignoring the facts. We need to start aggressively prosecuting weapon crimes if you have a gun and you shouldn't you need to be in jail period. If you commit a crime with a gun you need to be sent to prison for at least ten years. You shoot someone that's it game over life no parole we should not give you a second chance to kill someone. This mess is on the race baiters, the NAACP and everyone else who fails to admit there's a problem within the African American Community.  PERIOD!

Rideshare driver carjacked at gunpoint; suspects arrested after chase, CMPD says

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's University City Division and Eastway Division are conducting an armed robbery of a motor vehicle and pursuit investigation.   

Mekayla Rodgers, 19, and Lonnie McConico, 18, ran from the crash, but were arrested by police with the help of K-9 Officers.

On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at approximately 6:00 p.m., University City Division officers responded to an armed robbery of a motor vehicle in the University City Division.  The caller advised officers that an armed suspect approached a vehicle at a stoplight and opened the car door.  The suspect pointed a handgun at the driver of the car and demanded the driver to get out. The suspect then got into the vehicle and left the scene.

CMPD's Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) located the stolen vehicle inbound on The Plaza a short time later.  Eastway Division officers were alerted to the LPR hit and got behind the vehicle on The Plaza.  Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop, however, the suspect failed to stop.   Officers pursued the vehicle for a short distance, eventually losing sight of the car.  Officers were in the process of terminating the pursuit and turning their emergency equipment off as they saw the accident up ahead. 

The suspect continued on, driving recklessly in traffic.  The suspect later crashed, hitting an uninvolved vehicle with an adult female and child inside at the intersection of Belmont Avenue and Harrill Street.  Officers arrived and assisted the mother and her child out of the vehicle.  Medic arrived on scene and transported both to an area hospital as a precaution.

The suspect jumped and ran from the stolen vehicle.  CMPD's K9 Unit responded to the scene and quickly tracked the suspect hiding inside of a trash can.  The suspect was arrested without further incident.  A handgun was located in the stolen vehicle.

Eastway and University City Division officers and Crime Scene Search responded to process the scene and collect physical evidence. Representatives from CMPD's Operations Command, K9 Unit, and the Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) also assisted in the apprehension efforts.

Jalen Johnson Charged with Attempted Murder

You already know that Steele Creek is a cesspool of crime and now ranks as one of Charlotte's biggest trouble spots. But who expected a middle of the day shoot out?

Being a Bail Bondsman isn't all the glamorous and the bounty hunters who chase down skips seldom have that bigger than life persona of some guy named "Dog".

While the real life Duane Chapman has made a fortune it was only due to his TV role and marketing smarts and not his work tracking down bail jumpers. 

Last week bounty hunters located Jalen Johnson seen here running away from the gunfight on this Ring Doorbell Camera Video screen shot. Johnson is one of two men who tried to shoot it out with a pair of bondsmen in the Steele Creek area last week.

About 30 minutes later CMPD Officers located Johnson hiding in a storm sewer and took him into custody. The other man Chance Logan was also arrested at the scene.

Chance Anthony Armond Logan, 21, is charged with carrying a concealed weapon and simple assault.

Chance Anthony Armond Logan, 21

It may be that Logan will face additional charges yet he bonded out of jail on March 28 just before midnight. 

But it is Johnson's violent criminal history and that he was out on a minimal bail that is troubling and just another example of a democrat run criminal justice system that is broken and deadly.

BACKGROUND

Johnson was charged in 2019 with Felony-ASSAULT BY STRANGULATION and misdemeanor-ASSAULT ON A FEMALE and released on a cashless bond.

Johnson was than arrested on 6/24/2020 charged with AWDWIKISI-Assault on a female-Discharge Weapon Into Occupied Property given a minimal bail and released the next day on a pre trial release agreement.

A month later on 7/28/2020 Johnson was arrested again on the same charges and after a week posts bail with the help of a bail bondsman and is released on 8/4/2020.

The details are few as to why the second arrest on the same charges, but the MCSO has computer issues that may take a decade to correct.

In 2022 another warrant was issued for his arrest on a charge of non-support of a child. The warrant was never served. At this point you should be asking yourself why is a violent felon out of pretrial release and no one has any idea where he is?

Failing to appear for his court date last month a warrant was issued for his arrest and the bondsman are faced with having to forfeit the bond that was posted for Johnson's release unless they can locate and produce the felon.

Bounty hunters representing the bondsman located Johnson in a Steele Creek neighborhood. While attempting to take Johnson into custody he opens fire on the bounty hunters.

On 3/28/2023 Johnson is arrested by CMPD for failing to appear in court and also charged with shooting one of the bondsman but is again given bail. In fact the bail is ridiculously low and even lower than the original bail amount.

Fortunately a day later the bond was increased to more than $350,000 and Johnson remains behind bars awaiting his next court date of April 11th.

But the real question is why was Johnson given such a low bail in the first place and why is it taking the Mecklenburg DA 3 years to bring this thug to trial? Finally why are violent felons released back on the streets at all?

Tricia Cotham Jumps Ship Dem Go Crazy

Local democrats are having a nutty over Tricia Cotham's switch to the Republican Party.

But this is mostly good news for North Carolina and bad news for those pursuing a woke virtue signaling agenda. More so great news for law enforcement officer state wide.

The local paper did a fair look into Cotham's voting record and this is pretty good work. Unfortunately you can't read it online because of the endless pop-ups and webpage reloads. It is even worst if you are using your iPhone.

So here as a public service is the "local paper's" take:

What Does NC Rep. Tricia Cotham stand for?

Here’s what her voting history shows

The party switch On April 5, 2023, Democratic N.C. House Rep. Tricia Cotham announced she would join the House Republican caucus, provoking polarizing reactions from each party. The move will have major ramifications for North Carolina state politics.

N.C. Rep. Tricia Cotham spoke clearly during an emotional 2015 debate about a bill to require women to wait three days before getting an abortion. “My womb and my uterus are not up for your political grab,” said Cotham, then a Democratic representative for the 100th N.C. House District. Seven years later, she again made her opinion known in response to a questionnaire from The Charlotte Observer. 

Cotham left the legislature in 2017 after an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2016.

She won the 112th House District seat in November as a registered Democrat. “North Carolina should act now to codify Roe v. Wade to affirm the right to an abortion without interference,” Cotham wrote in 2022 when asked what the state should do if the landmark court ruling was overturned.

She also signed on as a co-sponsor in January of a bill to “codify Roe v. Wade” — prevent restrictions on abortion before fetal viability, unless the person’s life or health is in danger and stop any “undue burden” of the ability of a woman to choose.

But as she announced a party registration change on Wednesday, giving North Carolina Republicans a supermajority in the House, Cotham declined to commit to specific views on legislation. Cotham said she’s never thought abortion was “the biggest issue facing women in North Carolina” and said she would research bills before deciding. “There’s a piece of good advice I learned a long time ago: Don’t discuss legislation that’s not before you. So, I’m not going to do that,” Cotham said Wednesday during a news conference in Raleigh.

Already a swing vote on some issues, Cotham’s stance could be decisive on abortion rights in North Carolina. The state currently bans abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and Republicans are considering a 12-week ban. A total abortion ban introduced this year has just three sponsors or co-sponsors and hasn’t moved out of the House Rules Committee.

A gubernatorial veto override requires three-fifths of people present in the House at the time. That’s 72 votes with all members present, and Cotham’s switch makes 72 House Republicans. Here’s where Cotham stands on other issues or when she has crossed party lines.

IMMIGRATION AND SHERIFFS

Cotham voted last month with Republicans and two other Democrats in favor of House Bill 10. The bill passed the House 71-44, with two Democrats and three Republicans not voting.

It requires county sheriffs to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when people are charged with certain felony and misdemeanor offenses and are the subject of immigration detainers, including holding them for at least 48 hours in jail. It would also require sheriffs and other jail administrators to notify ICE if they can’t determine the legal status of people charged with certain crimes.

The bill attracted opposition from N.C. sheriffs such as Mecklenburg County’s Garry McFadden, who previously told the Observer the bill takes away local law enforcement’s authority and that sheriffs already must cooperate with ICE.

PISTOL PERMIT REPEAL

Cotham was absent March 29 when the House voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 41, which eliminated the state’s pistol permit requirement. It also allowed concealed handguns in places of worship that are also schools. Because she and two other Democrats missed the vote, Republicans succeeded in overriding Cooper’s veto with a 71-46 vote count. She said a scheduled medical appointment for long COVID was the reason for her absence. She voted in February against a more narrowly tailored measure, House Bill 50, only containing the pistol permit repeal.

CHARTER SCHOOLS

Prior to her party switch, Cotham maintained an outsized role for a Democrat in a Republican-controlled legislature as chair of the House K-12 Education Committee. She’s a former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools educator and served as vice chair of the House Education committee during her prior stint in the legislature. Sign up for Kaleidoscope An essential newsletter about race, culture and equity in the greater Charlotte and Mecklenburg County region.

She was one of three Democrats to vote with Republicans in favor of House Bill 149, which she also co-sponsored. The bill allows regional and statewide online-only charter schools, extends the state’s virtual charter school pilot program for one year and requires the state community college system’s president to be confirmed by the legislature.

WHO IS TRICIA COTHAM?

New Republican has history of Demoratic politics She’s the only Democrat to sign on as a co-sponsor of a charter school omnibus bill, HB 2019. The bill’s provisions include requiring the State Board of Education not to consider the impact on local public school districts when deciding when to approve a charter. It allows for the creation of a “micro school” within charter schools that could include specialized curriculum for a group of students. Another section of the bill allows counties to provide money to charter schools for capital improvements similar to local public school districts. In her 2022 questionnaire, Cotham said she wanted to eliminate “high stakes tests” because the state puts too much weight on test scores. Cotham also said in the questionnaire the state should fully fund the Leandro plan, which refers to court rulings that North Carolina has a constitutional obligation to give students access to a sound, basic education.

NEW RULES FOR NC DEAF AND BLIND SCHOOLS

Cotham voted last month with two other Democrats in favor of House Bill 11, which creates new boards to supervise the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf in Wilson, the North Carolina School for the Deaf in Morganton and the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in Raleigh. Cooper allowed the bill to become law without his signature, saying it “unconstitutionally attacks the State Board of Education by putting partisan political appointees of the legislature in charge of our NC schools for the deaf and blind.”

CRITICAL RACE THEORY

Cotham voted last month with Democrats against House Bill 187, a bill titled “equality in education,” but that critics such as Mecklenburg Democratic Rep. Laura Budd say would “micromanage from the General Assembly into the classrooms.” The bill says that teachers shall not promote that anyone “should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress” based on their race or sex.

PARTISAN SCHOOL BOARDS

Last month, Cotham voted along party lines and with Democrats against House Bill 88, which would make a number of local school board races partisan. The bill made changes to school board elections in Ashe, Cabarrus, Henderson, McDowell and Mitchell counties. Now, in counties such as Cabarrus candidates will run according to what party they’re registered with.

Republican legislators argue the change gives voters more information. Opponents say it injects more national politics into local public schools. In Guilford County, House Bill 88 also set a procedure for local political parties to fill school board vacancies. It also made changes to some small town elections. TRICIA COTHAM'S MOM: Democratic county commissioner speak about daughter's change

PENALTIES FOR RIOTING

Cotham and a majority of Democrats voted in February against House Bill 40, which increases penalties for the crimes of rioting or inciting a riot. Six Democrats voted for the measure. Gov. Roy Cooper let the bill become law without his signature, citing concerns about the First Amendment and “disparate impacts on communities of color.” The 75-43 vote count in the House would have been enough to override a veto. HOUSE BILL 2 Cotham in 2016 voted against House Bill 2, which reversed a Charlotte ordinance that protected transgender people who use public restrooms based on their gender identity. It required people to use the bathroom in public facilities that matched the gender on their birth certificate. “Don’t tell me this #HB2 is to save women and children. Disingenuous,” she wrote in a tweet at the time. The N.C. General Assembly repealed the bill and approved a compromise measure after its passage resulted in nationwide backlash and economic losses for the state.

Charlotte’s gun violence toll since 2021: At least 73 kids, teens shot; 33 were killed

Because CMPD and the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office doesn't keep records on young victims of violent crime, the Charlotte Observer got to work and should be commended for taking on the task. 

The final tally may not surprising but the numbers are truly sobering. 73 kids shot - 33 Died in just the last 27 months and that's nuts.

Below is a list of victims under the age of 18

 2021 

Jan. 19, 2:35 p.m., Hilo Drive: An Unnamed 7-year-old was injured when someone fired into multiple residences, a CMPD report says. 

Feb. 6, 10:57p.m., E. WT Harris Blvd: 16-year-old Khalil Sifford was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head, according to an incident report. 

Feb. 18, 10:59 p.m., Nigel Court: An Unnamed 7-year-old was injured when someone shot into his bedroom, according to an incident report. 

March 30, 3:14 p.m., Hovis Road: An Unnamed 15-year-old and Unnamed 16-year-old were shot by two unknown assailants. 

March 30, 7 p.m., Marble Street: 7-year-old Zionna was hit by gunfire when two groups began shooting at each other. Police thought the incident was connected to the earlier Hovis Road shooting, according to WCCB Charlotte. 

March 31, 9:55 p.m., Oak Meadow Court: An Unnamed 7-year-old was shot when someone broke into his home. 

April 10, 3:02 p.m., Tuckaseegee Road: According to an incident report, someone shot Unnamed  two 15-year-olds and fired into a house. One 15-year-old died while the other was injured. An infant and two 16-year-olds were also threatened but not injured. 

April 28, 2:31 a.m., Rose Ridge Place: 16-year-old Marcqueon Goodman was hospitalized after a drive-by shooting and later died. An incident report notes that Goodman was injured, but the report narrative only says that suspects broke into a vehicle. 

May 13, 9:23 p.m., Allen Street: 16-year-old Jeremiah Woodard-Pegues was found dead east of uptown Charlotte. One minor and one adult were charged in his death. 

May 21, 12:38 p.m., S. Tryon Street: 16-year-old Elijah Riggan was found dead near a gas station. His mother told WBTV that Riggan’s father, Delroy, was also murdered in 2009. 

June 5, 5:01 p.m., Isaac Hunter Drive: An Unnamed 1-year-old was hit by gunfire when someone shot into a vehicle. Two 7-year-olds and one 4-year-old were also present but not injured. 

June 10, 8:09 p.m., Carlyle Drive: An Unnamed child was hospitalized after being struck by gunfire, FOX 46 Charlotte reported. An incident report says a 1-year-old had minor injuries and an An Unnamed adult had sustained a gunshot wound. Two other children were present but uninjured. 

June 14, 3:15 p.m., Fairwood Avenue: An Unnamed 17-year-old and An Unnamed14-year-old were shot, according to an incident report. 

July 4, 3:41 p.m., Remount Road: Three minors were shot at while sitting in a vehicle, an incident report says. 17-year-old Trevell Moore was transported to Atrium Main with injuries and later died. 

July 24, 9 a.m., Flint Street: An Unnamed 14-year-old reportedly found a gun outdoors and fired it, injuring his Unnamed 12-year-old brother. 

Aug. 10, 8:28 p.m., Bevington Woods Lane: An Unnamed 7-year-old and his Unnamed father were injured after a 2-year-old accidentally discharged a gun, according to WSOC-TV. 

Aug. 16, 2:06 p.m., Long Ridge Lane: An Unnamed 4-year-old was injured in an accidental shooting. A 33-year-old was charged for failing to properly store firearms, The Observer reported. 

Sept. 5, 6:15 p.m., Trinity Road: 16-year-old An Unnamed died after being shot. An Unnamed 14-year-old was charged for shooting Foster and two others. 

Sept. 7, 11:44 p.m., Richard Rozzelle Drive: Approximately 150 rounds were fired into two residences, resulting in the death of 3-year-old Asiah Figueroa and An Unnamed 4-year-old being injured. 

Sept. 12, 11:26 a.m., Pressley Road: 17-year-old Jamir Suarez was found dead in a park. 

Sept. 20, 6:12 p.m., E Independence Blvd: A 19-year-old fired shots at another vehicle, resulting in his Unnamed 1-year-old child being grazed in the head and An Unnamed 15-year-old being shot in the leg. 

Oct. 12, 11:58 p.m., Fairwood Avenue: 15-year-old Daliamontray Strothers, Jr. died in the hospital after being shot. Two people were charged with firing into an occupied dwelling, according to WCCB. 

Oct. 28, 7:42 p.m., Quail Meadow Lane: An Unnamed 17-year-old was shot during an altercation. A 15-year-old was also present but not injured. 

Nov. 3, 5:14 a.m., McAlpine Glen Drive: 17-year-old Moises Hernandez called for help after being shot in the back, according to an incident report. He later died of his injuries. 

Nov. 6, 12:35 a.m., intersection of N. Tryon and W. WT Harris: 17-year-old Juan Ramirez was hospitalized after a shooting. He later died of his injuries. 

Nov. 27, 1:23 p.m., Olando Street: 14-year-old Vanessa Santos Garcia was fatally shot by her 18-year-old boyfriend in their shared home. The boyfriend, who claimed he discharged the gun while cleaning it, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and statutory rape according to WSOC. Family members alleged the Unnamed boyfriend was abusive. 

Dec. 7, Carlyle Drive: Two Unnamed Harding University High School students were grazed by bullets, according to WSOC.

2022 

Jan. 24, 7:48 p.m., Edsdale Place: An Unnamed 16-year-old was shot multiple times in the chest by a family member, according to an incident report. 

Jan. 31, 4:20 p.m., W. Sugar Creek Road: Someone fired into an shopping center resulting in An Unnamed 11-year-old being injured, according to an incident report. 

Feb. 11, 12:19 a.m., Charleston Place Lane: An Unnamed 17-year-old called for help after someone walked up and shot him, an incident report says. Two bullets entered his home where his family members were present. 

Feb. 18, 10:39 p.m., Mallard Park Drive: 15-year-old Martin Solano-Tashpulatova was shot by another teen. He later died of his injuries. His mother told WBTV she thought her son was planning to meet up with someone when he was shot. An Unnamed 15-year-old was eventually charged. 

March 14, 6:14 a.m., Copper Creek Court: An Unnamed 16-year-old Garinger High student was shot while walking to school, according to WBTV. 

March 15, 6:16 p.m., intersection of Fairwood and Baltimore Avenues: Kyrin Parker, age 14, and a An Unnamed 13-year-old were shot in the Southside Homes area. Parker would later die at the hospital. He attended Randolph Middle School, The Observer reported. 

March 26, 2:42 p.m., Sunset Road: 10-year-old Cherish Murphy was seriously injured when someone opened fire at a car wash. 

March 28, 10:31 a.m., Oakdale Road: An Unnamed 16-year-old was shot in the hand during an altercation with two other people, an incident report says. Another juvenile was injured and three people were charged for robbery, according to WCNC. 

March 29, 11:35 a.m., intersection of Franklin Avenue and Olando Street: 17-year-old Tre Avery was shot multiple times. He would later die of his injuries at the hospital. An Unnamed 14-year-old was charged for the murder, The Observer reported. 

March 30, 2:53 p.m., Northstream Drive: An Unnamed16-year-old was hospitalized after being shot in the chest. April 30, 5:35 p.m., Wyalong Drive: Two teens fired multiple shots near a convenience store as seen on surveillance footage, resulting in another teen being injured. 

May 17, 12:01 p.m., Deep Rock Circle: A shooting occurred in an apartment complex, resulting in an 9-year-old being injured. The child’s injuries were non-life-threatening, according to WBTV. 

May 29, 5:35 p.m., First Run Court: Officers responded to a report of “an assault with a deadly weapon.” 15-year-old John Morales had been shot by two other teens. He later passed from his injuries. 

June 4, 11:48 a.m., Leake Street: 17-year-old Andy Hernandez was shot by two other teens. He passed away on the scene. His family told WBTV that they’re now pushing to end gun violence. As of July 20, they were raising money for his funeral. 

June 21, 8:19 p.m., Branchview Drive: Police say they received a call that a shootout was in progress. At least one teenager, who police identified as Jeferson Landaverde, died. He was 16.

June 25, 8:12 p.m., Wallace Road: Q’arysnn Maske, 1-year-old, died from a gunshot wound to the head after “a firearm was accidentally discharged,” an incident report says. Her 7-year-old brother, who was holding her, was shot in the hand. Maske’s mother told WSOC that a family friend was supervising children at the home, and one child fired the gun. Child Protective Services and the Child Development Community Policing program were working with the family, police said. 

June 27, 1:30 p.m., Holly Street: Two groups of people outside a residence started shooting at each other resulting in “numerous victims,” police say. Among them were an Unnamed1-year-old and an Unnamed16-year-old. A police report says that a 15-year-old also had minor injuries, though it is unclear if they were shot. 

July 7, 6:54 a.m., Sofley Road: Someone called police to report a death in the area. Police found 17-year-old Vladimir Antonio-Garcia with a gunshot wound. 

July 8, 2:52 a.m., Patriots Place Drive: Aalayah Fulmore, 13, was shot in the abdomen by a stray bullet that was fired into her bedroom from the parking lot outside her mother’s apartment. She spent months in the hospital. 

July 28, 2:57 a.m., Silver Arrow Road: An Unnamed15-year-old boy was hospitalized after being shot by an unknown person. 

Aug. 29, 6:48 p.m., Wallace Road: A four-year-old was injured in a drive-by shooting at his home. 

Oct. 13, 7:54 p.m., Old Providence Road: A 15-year-old and 16-year-old were hospitalized after being shot by someone who also shot into a nearby vehicle and business, police said. 

Nov. 2, 7:27 p.m., Charleston Place Lane: Police were dispatched to the home of 4-year-old Demario Warren after a call for medical assistance. Demario died from a gunshot. His father was charged for involuntary manslaughter and improper firearm storage. 

Nov. 15, 7 p.m., Griers Grove Road: 17-year-old Damien Gonzalez was shot and killed in Fred Alexander Park. Two minor-aged suspects were charged with murder and other crimes, police said. 

Nov. 30, 2:35 p.m., Lanza Drive: 17-year-old Nazhir Taylor died after getting shot shortly after exiting a school bus. Police arrested a minor-aged suspect on attempted first-degree murder and other charging, stating they intended to seek a first-degree murder charge. 

Dec. 21, Westwinds Court: A 13-year-old was shot in the chest by another minor. The weapon involved was a “ghost gun,” or a gun without serial numbers. Drug and weapon law charges were issued.

2023 

Jan. 1, shortly after midnight, Moretz Avenue: On New Year’s Day, officers were responded to a call about a shooting and discovered found 5-year-old Lyric Thomas dead. A preliminary investigation found the shooting was accidental, according to a press release. 

Jan. 22, 11:32 a.m., William Reynolds Drive: A 15-year-old was fatally shot before noon by a 16-year-old. At a press conference the following day, police said the teens were “playing” with the gun before the shooting. 

Feb. 12, 4 p.m., Coriander Court: 15-year-old Steven Gomez was shot while playing a video game, WSOC reported. Kendal Edward Morris, 32 was charged with involuntarily manslaughter. 

Feb. 19, 4 p.m., Lynn Street: An Unnamed17-year-old died when a car drove up and opened fire on a group of people. 

March 19, The Plaza: 16-year-old Jareese Florybert and one other person were fatally shot. A 16-year-old was charged with murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle. 

March 24, 1:30 a.m., Flagler Lane: An Unnamed13-year-old boy was taken to the hospital with a leg injury after multiple gunshots into his home.

Emily Ann Sellers Wall In Memoriam

You can scroll through a thousand faces of those arrested in Charlotte and few will ever stand out like that of Emily Wall.

And so it is that we take a moment to note the passing of Emily Ann Sellers Wall.

At this point is would be appropriate to insert a nice photo of Emily but sadly there are only mugshots.

Her obituary was to the point and done so in less than 100 words.

On Sunday, October 23, 2022, Emily Ann Wall, 32, passed away at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center Main in Charlotte, NC.

Emily was born June 28, 1990, in Moore County, NC, and was the daughter of the late Lori Ann Sellers. She was a graduate of Anson High School and had worked as a grocery store clerk.

Those left to cherish her memory are her brother, James Dillon Sellers of Monroe, and her grandparents, James and Margaret Sellers of Wadesboro.

 A private service for the family will be at the Anson Memorial Park columbarium.

What is not said it that she was found unresponsive transported by medic and declared deceased by CMC Main doctors.

From November 23, 2020 Cedar Posts:

Local "Meth Queen" Emily Wall is back in Mecklenburg County Jail. CP's guess is that this is her 27th arrest and 29th stay at the McFadden Hilton. 

Is there not someone who can get this girl some help? I know Black Lives Matter and all that but could someone make an exception? 

At 30 she's really got a lot of living to do. 

But it would be sad if she spent it living in crack houses and on the street. Isn't there a judge that will say "no release until you're clean and sober, employed and in some sort of re-hab program". 

Or is Charlotte just going to join Portland and say oh well it's OK if some people are druggies?

Just Another Oh Damn Momment

You know you're driving along a little faster than normal then out of nowhere is a freaking pedestrian 2 hours after dark walking on the wrong side of the road and wearing all black. 

You see anyone in the picture below?

How about now?

Yep Oh DAMN! 

Keep in mind I'm running below the speed limit with Xenon HID 6000K headlights and Lexus adaptive feature which actually turns the headlights towards the direction of the turn.

Death by stupid was just 24 inches away. I swear she must be a cat because she absolutely used up one of her nine lives. The only thing white she had on were some Nike shoes and Apple ear buds.

Damn People! Stop doing this level of stupid!