No Tag No Insurance Problem If You Live In Charlotte

If you are a taxpayer in Charlotte you may have noticed that every 3rd car has either an expired tag, or obviously fake temporary tag. 

You may have even questioned why your neighbor has Texas plates on both his cars, in fact they are the same plate. Never mind that he said he was from New York and has a Bills football flag at his front door.

Then there are the neighbors that have Indiana tags that have a 7-2029 expiration sticker and the guy at work, who drives a Ford "MayStart" with South Carolina tags that expired the same year your 8 year old was born.

Did you know you can skip the DMV line and order your paper tags on line? 

Yes you can buy tag both metal real license plates and fake paper ones on eBay. 

In fact several West Charlotte "C-Stores" will print your paper temporary tag while you wait it's only $20.00. 

Of course the fine print says "Not valid for motor vehicles - purposes entertainment only".

So why are these people allowed to clearly violate the law with impunity?

Basically the system is overwhelmed. NCDMV is out of control and we don't have enough law enforcement to enforce the laws and a segment of our society are such low life that they just do not give a flip.

The Greater Costs to You

Not only are their license plates expired but they likely have:

No insurance

Have not paid their auto property taxes

Have never had a basic safety inspection

Additionally

It's likely ....

they have a not valid drivers license in years

they have at least one Outstanding arrest warrant

or Its a stolen car

Bonus

and the don't pay express lane fees.

So why don't CMPD and SHP light these clowns up?

Well that would be racist of course, but seriously:

Given the number of offenders CMPD Officers would not be able to do anything else.

SHP is more likely to stop these clowns in fact they seem to enjoy hearing "why are you harassing me CMPD never stopped me before".

How bad is it?

The specific number of vehicles with expired registrations in Mecklenburg County is unknown, as official state agencies will not provide this data (we've asked). 

While it's estimated there are potentially thousands of cars with expired registrations statewide, this number is difficult to pinpoint for any specific county. 

Why the number is unknown: 

Lack of Data: The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) will not release data on the number of expired registrations within specific counties.

Law Enforcement Policies: CMPD has changed their policy and they no longer allow officers to use expired registration as the sole reason for a traffic stop. This makes it harder for law enforcement to identify and track vehicles with expired plates.

What to know about expired registration:

Legality: It is illegal to operate a vehicle on public roads with an expired registration in North Carolina. 

Late Fees: The NCDMV charges a late fee for registration renewals submitted after the expiration date. 

No Insurance penalties also add up quickly.

But once you go more than 2 years the DMV can't determine your past due property taxes and they will only charge you for the current year due.

So what about the tax revenue:

There is no publicly released, specific figure for Mecklenburg County's 2024 revenue from vehicle property taxes. The county's budget reports do not break down property tax revenue by property type. 

However, Mecklenburg County's 2024 fiscal year shows that the county achieved a 99.5% collection rate for all ad valorem (real property) taxes.

For the same period, total property tax collections for all jurisdictions in Mecklenburg County (including the city and towns) surpassed $2 billion for the first time.

Property taxes account for over half of Mecklenburg County's general fund revenue. 

In other words they are "flush with cash" so your dead beat neighbor not paying his motor vehicle tax is not a big deal.

How Mecklenburg County collects vehicle taxes

The process for collecting vehicle property taxes in North Carolina is integrated into the vehicle registration system, which may explain why the data is not itemized separately in public reports. 

North Carolina's "Tag and Tax Together" program allows the NC Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) to collect both the vehicle registration renewal fee and the vehicle's property tax at the same time and the NCDMV is absolutely dysfunctional.

Insurance

While exact numbers fluctuate, recent estimates for North Carolina drivers without auto insurance range from about 6.5% to 11.8%, with some sources suggesting a figure closer to 10% of all drivers. These percentages indicate that thousands of drivers in North Carolina are operating uninsured, violating state law and leaving others to cover accident costs. 

Insurance Information Institute, found that 11.8% of North Carolina motorists drove without insurance in 2023. 

A high percentage of uninsured motorists increases the risk and cost of lawsuits, leading to higher rates.

What this means to the rest of us is higher auto insurance costs 

Why haven't Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and North Carolina done anything?

Much of the reason for no enforcement is lack of resources. 

But sadly there are a lot of people who think it doesn't concern them so why care.

When Ryan Barnett @Rb__barnett who posted most of these photos asked on "X":

Why is it okay to never register your vehicle and drive with no insurance in Charlotte? 

and then added:

I would estimate that 90+% of these fake plates as I've been sharing the city is over run with them, do not have insurance

Internet Trolls like Adam Butler were quick to respond with:

Note about Adam Butler @AdamButler__ he loves to troll people and take the opposing view. 

·

But I suspect when his daughter starts driving he'll figure out that maybe getting uninsured and un licensed drivers off the road is a good way to keep drunks from killing our kids.

A few years ago my then 23 year old daughter was hit by a drunk driver in a Ford 150 with an expired tag and no insurance, an illegal alien from El Salvador that ran a stop light on 74 in Monroe. 

She was returning with friends from a beach trip in a Tahoe when he hit the passenger side at about 45 mph. She was thankfully in the left rear seat, but her bestie in the right front seat was almost killed and spent a total of 8 weeks in the hospital. She's ok.

I pray Adam doesn't get the same call I did at 11 o'clock that night. All I heard was "Daddy" and a cascade of sobbing from the biggest part of my life. 

Finally that North Carolina General Assembly needs to address this along with other crime issues. If the only people driving with expired tags were criminals look at how easy it would be to identify the bad guys. Oh wait they are criminals. 

Darnell Rashawn Harris Romare Bearden Park Shooting

Someone please explain why Harris was under charged?

The CMPD Arrest Affidavit:

On 10/04/2025 at 10:27 Pm CMPD Officers were dispatched to 300 S. Church St. (Romare Bearden Park)in reference for shots fired call for service.

CMPD Officers were in the area of the park when they observed multiple Juveniles running away from the park. CMPD Officers heard shots being fired 10 seconds later. Officers began making entry to the park and could not locate any victims or suspects at the time.

Officers circulated and located the defendant talking on the phone and walking away from the scene. The defendant stated to officers willingly that he was the one who fired shots in self defense. The defendant stated he and his friend were inside the park when they were approached by group of males.

The defendant stated the males began to pull out firearms and that's when the defendant stated he grabbed his friend's brown firearm from his person and began firing shots as the males ran away.

The defendant stated the gun belonged to his friend and not his. CMPD Officers were able to take the defendant into custody CMPD Officers were able to find Brown Palmetto State Armory handgun in the bushes in front of chipotle in the bushes on 316 S. Tryon St. where the defendant was located walking by.

Upon Search incident to arrest CMPD Officers located clear bag of Marijuana containing 3.4 Grams. on the defendants person.

The defendant is being charged with Discharging firearm In City Limits and Possession of Marijuana up to OZ

WILLIAMS, TYVON NAHEEM

Props to CMPD Officer's smart work promptly cuffing and stuffing this perp last night.

Tyvon Williams is a repeat and violent felon that libtard judges gave a free pass to on more than five prior cases.

His bail was set this morning by a judge magistrate at only $10,000 and should be immediately revoked. Apparently they don't check the records to see that this clown was wanted by his PO as an absconder?

His first felony conviction came last year when he pled guilty to 2nd Degree Kidnapping and was given a suspended sentence and 36 months supervised probation last year.

INITIAL	23333451	KIDNAPPING 2ND DEGREE (PRINCIPAL)	06/13/2023	FELON	CLASS E
CONSOLIDATED FOR JUDGMENT	23221087	B & E VEHICLES (PRINCIPAL)	01/27/2023	FELON	CLASS I
CONSOLIDATED FOR JUDGMENT	23333451	ASSAULT POINTING GUN (PRINCIPAL)	06/13/2023	MISD.	CLASS A1 MISDEMEANOR SS

Then this future "doctor" apparently decided probation was such a bother that he wasn't going to play along with the rules.

No drugs, no weapons, no stealing and no contact with the victim, enroll in and complete a cognitive behavioral program within the first six months and obtain a high school GED "Good Enough Degree".

His prior arrests indicate the inability to coexist is civil society.

January 2, 2023 Dismissed

BREAK OR ENTER A MOTOR VEHICLE

ATTEMPTED LARCENY

June 13, 2023 - Pled Guilty to 2nd Degree Kidnapping

FIRST DEGREE KIDNAPPING

ATMPT 1ST DEGREE FORCIBLE RAPE

ASSAULT ON A FEMALE

COMMUNICATING THREATS

ASSAULT BY POINTING A GUN

June 13, 2023 - Consolidated with above

POSSESS STOLEN FIREARM

RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER

CARRYING CONCEALED GUN(M)

June 30, 2024 - Failure to Appear

COMMUNICATING THREATS

September 11, 2024 - Dismissed

POSSESS STOLEN MOTOR VEHICLE

Understand this is not some one off outlier this is normal for Mecklenburg County judges to give violent felons probation. Just weeks are being sentenced this POS threatened his own mother who told police the her said he was going to "shoot me in my face".

Cedar's Take:

These people are violent criminals. These are not harmless junkies or petty thieves. They are thugs who are willing to kill and have the weapons and lack of self control to murder someone for as much as a perceived bad look or driving mistake. They are even ready to kill their own mother over a cold dinner or unwillingness to give them $5 with zero regret. 

Thursday Charlotte Double Homicide

 According to CMPD a Florida man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the double homicide of two men in northwest Charlotte on Thursday. 

One of the victims who was murdered was the owner/operator of the Bojangles restaurant in Cherryville, NC (owned by Vishnu Properties, Inc)

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department identified the victims as Anilkumar Patel, 54, and Pankaj Patel. 

Per sources, a contractor working on a motel argued with Pankaj. After leaving the scene, the contractor returned and shot Pankaj seven times, while Anil, who had just arrived to help Pankaj with a business deal, was shot twice. 

The incident occurred near the site of the former Lamplighter Inn on Eddleman Road (Lucky Penny Street) at 1;15 p.m. on Thursday, October 2nd.

The CMPD Homicide Unit responded to the scene after reports of a shooting. While initial reports indicated that the two victims were rushed to a local hospital, CMPD confirmed shortly after 3:30 p.m. that both men had died from their injuries. 

The investigation led authorities to identify and follow the suspect who had fled the state. Alvaro Luis Ozuna Sierra, 38, was taken into custody in connection with the shooting early Friday morning, October 3rd, in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

While Ozuna-Sierra has no apparent arrest record in Mecklenburg County he does have a North Carolina criminal record per sources. 

CATS Security Just a Lot of Smoke and Mirrors

Local investigative news in Charlotte is normally pretty sad. Few news stations are willing to go toe to toe with City Grifters.

But when the national press found out about the murder of Iryna Zarutska the halogen spot light sent the local government rats and grifters running for cover. 

Then the state auditor pulled the covers off CATS and it was pretty ugly. 

CMPD's Police Chief and been totally absent. The mayor was doing an ever changing shimmy dance to address this young woman's death. Not one of her press releases was the truth and each was nothing but spin. 

Meanwhile the city attorney who like the CMPD chief is on his way out and soon to be replaced with a female version has said nothing.

In fact when the mayor and CATS director Brent Cagle held a presser twice delayed to address CATS Safety the City Attorney and CMPD Chief were no where to be found.

Meanwhile Charlotte's FOP Lodge is asking city leaders to send in some help

And most of Charlotte's news is silent.

But Hunter Saenz has been asking questions and here is his take that he posted to "X" yesterday.

One of the solutions the City of Charlotte is doing to boost security on the light rail system is offering 966 hours of off-duty shifts per week. 24 officers needed a week. Any officers who want to make some extra money can patrol the light rail system for $80-85/hour. 

After hearing from multiple CMPD sources who told me it's a struggle to fill those off-duty slots, I asked City Manager Marcus Jones how many of the slots are being filled or have been filled. 

"My understanding is that all of those slots have been subscribed."

But multiple sources tell me officers are not signing up partly because they are not getting paid the extra, off-duty pay thru their city paycheck. 

Instead, they are paid thru a system called "power detail" that CMPD uses for off-duty services.

For this job, the employer is technically Transit Management of Charlotte. 

Since they are paid the extra money in this way - CMPD officers cannot count this as overtime and it does not count toward the pay that could help determine their future pensions.

Marcus Jones told me, "They are being paid thru CATS and not thru the city's general fund - just like an off duty for another entity."

But several of my contacts say there is growing frustration with this pay structure. 

I asked Jones if the city is choosing to save money over keeping the community safe.

His response: 

"No, not at all," Jones said. "I have not heard up to this point that there has been issue with the off duty officers filling the slots that CATS has made available."

But just this past Tuesday, this internal email I obtained, shows there were still some 100 openings for these off-duty shifts that still needed to be filled.

Here is how Councilman Ed Driggs explained the pay structure for the off-duty shifts: 

"The Charlotte officers who are hired by CATS are working off the CMPD clock. This is not overtime pay which they get when they fill in duties for CMPD that normally would be filled by...

...other officers. They do that the same way they do when they provide security in neighborhoods like mine. And as such, that pay doesn't qualify as the union suggested for their inclusion in their CMPD service compensation."

(FYI, the FOP union did not suggest this to me)

When officers work the off-duty job for this, I'm told they are in their CMPD uniforms and in CMPD patrol cars.

FOP's Letter

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. 

Quivonte Blount Murdered Last Month - One Suspect Arrested

On September 2nd Quivonte Blount age 29 was found dead sitting on his Suzuki ATV in the middle of Hyde Park Drive just off Beatties Ford Road.

He had been shot multiple times and was dead by the time CMPD Officers arrived.

Blount's green Suzuki ATV was in the road with the keys still in the ignition. A black helmet was on the ground to the right of the ATV with two bullet holes in it. A dozen shell casings were scattered about in front of the ATV and Officers quickly determined there was more than one shooter.

According to local news media 

A homicide investigation is underway in north Charlotte after a man was found dead at the entrance of Hyde Park Estates Tuesday morning.

News reporters at the scene of the investigation and observed an all-terrain vehicle that detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department were investigating.

“Safety is my first priority, and when I was told what happened, it was very disturbing, Ardrey Massey, a resident, told news crews.

Massey says she typically avoids Beatties Ford Road for her morning walks. This morning, she definitely did after her neighbor let her know what she heard outside her window around 6 a.m.

“She said she heard gunshots,” Massey said. “That’s it. She heard gunshots, and it was upsetting.”

Several other neighbors said this is something they have never experienced. One said they heard twelve shots. They also said the victim was a young man.

CMPD investigators and the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner worked around that ATV for hours gathering evidence.

Massey said she also heard something around 6:30 a.m. but wasn’t sure if it was gunshots.

She says her goal now is to make sure she stays safe while outside and hopes she never experiences anything like this again.

“All of this violence is extremely upsetting, and something has to be done about it,” she said.

Multiple neighbors we spoke with say it’s not unusual for ATVs to drive though their neighborhood, but they did not recognize the victim in this case.

CMPD says they are still looking for a suspect in this shooting. They ask anyone with information to contact the authorities.

CMPD's Press Release:

Charlotte, N.C. – (Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025) – Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) Homicide Unit are conducting a homicide investigation in the 4100 block of Hyde Park Drive in the North Division.

On Tuesday, Sept. 2, shortly after 6:30 a.m., officers responded to a welfare check call for service in the 4100 block of Hyde Park Drive. Upon arrival, officers discovered an unresponsive victim. The victim was pronounced deceased on scene by MEDIC.

Homicide Unit detectives responded to the scene to conduct an investigation, and Crime Scene Search responded to process the scene and collect physical evidence. Representatives from CMPD’s Operations Command, Victim Services, and MEDIC also assisted.

You can read the entire police affidavit below.

Arrest of Vernon Williams:

On Tuesday CMPD Officers learned that one of the suspects in the Blount murder, Vernon Williams was in the custody of the MCSO. Williams had been arrested on outstanding warrants including charges of domestic violence involving Gwendolyn Jones who also has an impressive arrest record for drugs, weapons, and theft.

Williams release had already been ordered by Judge Keith Smith having set his bond at $2,500 despite his lengthy criminal record. Williams was just $250.00 from hitting the streets again.

Once CMPD and the MCSO connected the dots, Williams was quickly charged with the murder of Blount and will now be held without bond until his next court appearance.

A review of the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office website shows only the two most recent arrests for Williams. But that is because the "pro-criminal" Sherriff Garry McFadden removes arrest records after two years. Williams' arrest record is actually impressive:

13 known arrests in the last 13 years.  Four years behind bars, crimes of armed robbery and more, but most charges dismissed by a liberal DAs and pro thug judges.

UPDATE

CMPD Officers have arrested Shanchez "Chez" Nicholson on October, 2025.

Shanchez Nicholson Photo Courtesy MCSO

Nicholson is charged with the murder of Quivonte Blount as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

He is currently being held at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center without bond.

Police Affidavit 

On September 2, 2025, at 6:38am Officers responded to check the welfare call for service at Hyde Park Drive Beatties Ford Road. 

The 911 caller stated there is male on four-wheeler leaned over. The caller stated he thinks he is dead. 

Officers arrived on scene and located the victim suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Officer Ritchey pronounced the victim deceased at 6:47am. Detectives spoke with neighbor who advised hearing gunshots at 6:20am.

The scene was the middle of Hyde Park Drive just after the entrance from Beatties Ford Road. A green Suzuki ATV was in the road with the keys still in the ignition. A black helmet was on the ground to the right of the ATV with two bullet holes in it. Twelve 9mm DCCs were located in front of the ATV. Crime scene collected the DCCs, helmet, firearm, IDs, and projectiles. Latent prints from the helmet, and touch swabs from the ATV.

Detectives located several partial projectiles and full projectile in the victim's jackets. The victim had defect to his left hand, one to his left middle finger, one on the bottom of his chin, four in the upper chest, two in the abdomen, one to the lower right side of his neck, one in the center back, and one in the lower right side of his torso.

Detectives met with the Medical Examiner who advised the victim was shot with two different firearms.

Detectives obtained video from several locations that show the suspect vehicle and the 4-wheeler following each other prior to the shooting. The Honda is seen with its hazard lights on with the 4-wheeler following behind. The Honda turns left onto Hyde Park Drive followed by the 4-wheeler at 6:19am. A minute later the Honda is seen turning left onto Beatties Ford Road toward Sunset Road.

Detectives received the victim's cell phone records from Verizon and were able to determine the victim was in the area of the QuikTrip (QT) on Sunset Road prior to the murder. 

Detectives responded to this location and viewed the surveillance footage. On the video the suspect vehicle, Honda CR-V backs into parking spot in front of the store followed by the victim on 4-wheeler ATV. A female is seen getting out of the Honda and

going inside. After getting gas the Honda and the 4-wheeler leave the QT.

Detectives sent out BOLO for the Honda CR-V. Officers from Westover contacted Homicide and advised they recovered stolen Honda CR-V from Starmount Cove Lane on September 4th. 

Detectives responded to Starmount Cove Lane and located video of the suspects arriving in the parking lot. The same female from the QT is seen going into 1422 Starmount Cove Lane.

Detectives executed search warrant at 1422 Starmount Cove Lane and identified the female getting out of the stolen Honda and at the QT as Zion Barrino. 

Zion was not at home but spoke with Detectives on the phone and

agreed to come to the LEC.

Detectives interviewed Zion who advised she was with "Chez" and "V" on September 2, 2025 in the Honda CR- V. She stated they were at hotel across the street from the QT hanging out. 

She advised the victim was there on the 4-wheeler. She told "Chez" she was hungry, so they left and went to the QT to get something to eat. 

The victim followed them to the QT and afterwards followed them to an after-hour party location near Hopewell High School. After an hour or so they left along with the victim. When they left, they turned the wrong way and got separated from the victim. They caught up to the victim at the light on Beatties Ford Road and Mt. Holly Huntersville Road. The suspects pulled up next to the 4-wheeler and told him they had flat and were going to pull over to fix the tire. 

Zion said they turned on their hazards and continued to drive before pulling onto Hyde Park Drive. Zion said she was in the back seat and both "Chez" and "V" got out. She then heard two different gunshots and saw them running back to the car. She advised the victim did not shoot. 

They told her not to look but when she did she saw the victim slumped over on the 4-wheeler. Zion stated they drove back to the hotel, picked up "Tay" and then drove back to her place where they are seen on the surveillance footage. 

Zion positively identified "Chez" as Sanchez Nicholson and "V" as Vernon Williams. 

Vernon Tyrone Williams, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit armed armed robbery, Class Felony. This felony was committed on 2/2/2015 and the defendant pled guilty on 8/3/2015 in Mecklenburg County Superior Court and sentenced to 33-52 months in prison.

Based on physical evidence, surveillance video, and witness statements Detectives are seeking warrants for 1st degree murder and Possession of firearm by convicted felon.

Arrest Affidavit for Nicholson

On September 2, 2025, at 6:38am Officers responded to check the welfare call for service at Hyde Park Drive Beatties Ford Road. The 911 caller stated there is male on four-wheeler leaned over. The caller stated he thinks he is dead. 

Officers arrived on scene and located the victim suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Officer Ritchey pronounced the victim deceased at 6:47am. Detectives spoke with neighbor who advised hearing gunshots at 6:20am.

The scene was the middle of Hyde Park Drive just after the entrance from Beatties Ford Road. 

A green Suzuki ATV was in the road with the keys still in the ignition. black helmet was on the ground to the right of the ATV with two bullet holes in it. Twelve mm DCCs were located in front of the ATV. Crime scene collected the DCCs, helmet, firearm, IDs, and projectiles. Latent prints from the helmet, and touch swabs from the ATV.

Detectives located several partial projectiles and full projectile in the victim's jackets. The victim had defect to his left hand, one to his left middle finger, one on the bottom of his chin, four in the upper chest, two in the abdomen, one to the lower right side of his neck, one in the center back, and one in the lower right side of his torso.

Detectives met with the Medical Examiner who advised the victim was shot with two different firearms. Detectives obtained video from several locations that show the suspect vehicle and the 4-wheeler following each other prior to the shooting. 

The Honda is seen with its hazard lights on with the 4-wheeler following behind. The Honda turns left onto Hyde Park Drive followed by the 4-wheeler at 6:19am. A minute later the Honda is seen turning left onto Beatties Ford Road toward Sunset Road.

Detectives received the victim's cell phone records from Verizon and were able to determine the victim was in the area of the QuikTrip (QT) on Sunset Road prior

to the murder. Detectives responded to this location and viewed the surveillance footage. 

On the video the suspect vehicle, Honda CR-V backs into parking spot in front of the store followed by the victim on 4-wheeler ATV. female is seen getting out of the Honda and going inside. 

After getting gas the Honda and the 4-wheeler leave the QT. Detectives sent out BOLO for the Honda CR-V. Officers from Westover contacted Homicide and advised they

recovered stolen Honda CR-V from Starmount Cove Lane on September 4th. Detectives responded to Starmount Cove Lane and located video of the suspects arriving in the parking lot. The same female from the QT is seen going into 1422 Starmount Cove Lane.

Detectives executed search warrant at 1422 Starmount Cove Lane and identified the female getting out of the stolen Honda and at the QT as Zion Barrino. Zion was not at home but spoke with Detectives on the phone and agreed to come to the LEC.

Detectives interviewed Zion who advised she was with "Chez" and "V" on September 2, 2025 in the Honda CR-V. She stated they were at hotel across the street from the QT hanging out. 

She advised the victim was there on the 4-wheeler. She told "Chez" she was hungry, so they left and went to the QT to get something to eat. The victim followed them to the QT and afterwards followed them to an after-hour party location near Hopewell High School. 

After an hour or so they left along with the victim. When they left, they turned the wrong way and got separated from the victim. They caught up to the victim at the light on Beatties Ford Road and Mt. Holly Huntersville Road. 

The suspects pulled up next to the 4-wheeler and told him they had flat and were going to pull over to fix the tire. Zion said they turned on their hazards and continued to drive before pulling onto Hyde Park Drive. Zion said she was in the back seat and both "Chez" and "V" got out. 

She then heard two different gunshots and saw them running back to the car. She advised the victim did not shoot. They told her not to look but when she did she saw the victim slumped over on the 4-wheeler. Zion stated they drove back to the hotel, picked up "Tay" and then drove back to her place where they are seen on the

surveillance footage. Zion positively identified "Chez" as Sanchez Nicholson and "V" as Vernon Williams.

Sanchez Nicholson, pled guilty to Break or Enter motor vehicle Class felony. This felony was committed on 7/19/2017 and the defendant pled guilty on 3/8/2018 in Cabarrus County Superior Court and sentenced to 36 months probation.

Based on physical evidence, surveillance video, and witness statements Detectives are seeking warrants for 1st degree murder and Possession of firearm by convicted felon.