University of South Carolina student, 21, killed by illegal immigrant: DHS

An illegal immigrant on the run from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement charged in the hit-and-run crash that killed a University of South Carolina Nate Baker Wednesday.

Rosali I. Fernandez-Cruz, 24, allegedly fled the fatal scene after he failed to yield and rammed his pick-up truck into a motorcycle operated by Nathanial Baker, 21, on Blossom and Assembly Streets near the university’s campus in Columbia around 2 p.m., according to the Columbia Police Department. 

Rosali I. Fernandez-Cruz, 24 Photo Courtesy City of Columbia, SC Police Department

The careless motorist, who was allegedly driving without a license, was wanted by ICE since 2018, a Department of Homeland Security source told The Post. 

“A South Carolina student was killed yesterday because of an illegal alien who had no right to be here,” South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace said in an X post Thursday.

“We’re going to fight like hell to get every last illegal alien out of South Carolina. We’re praying for the victim, his family, and the students at USC who have been touched by his passing. Hold the Line South Carolina.”

Sources said Fernandez-Cruz, a native of El Salvador, illegally crossed the US-Mexico border at an unknown date but was arrested by border patrol in Hidalgo, Texas on Dec. 24, 2016. He was released the next day and issued a notice to appear as DHS initiated removal proceedings.

An immigration judge in Charlotte, North Carolina, then ordered the illegal migrant to be sent back to his home country on Sept. 6, 2018, sources said.

South Carolina police said Fernandez-Cruz was driving with two male passengers when he killed Baker, a business major from Glen Allen, Virginia, and fled the crash site. He then abandoned his truck and was nabbed by a nearby officer who found and detained him near the 1100 block of Greene Street, according to cops.

ICE was notified of the arrest after police discovered Fernandez-Cruz’s name listed in the National Crime Information Center database.

The two passengers, who also ran from the scene, aren’t facing criminal charges, police said.

Scores of grief-stricken USC students have since created a memorial on a sidewalk near the deadly crash site, leaving behind messages in chalk, flowers, pictures, and candles, according to local reports.

“Rest in Peace, Nate,” one message said, WACH reported.

“Thank you for the memories. We love you so much.”

Baker’s fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, also shared their sorrow on Instagram, calling their fallen brother a leader, role model and a true embodiment of what their group stands for.

Nate Baker and Parents

“Nate Baker brought light, laughter, and love into all of our lives,” the fraternity wrote in the post.

“Nate will always be remembered for the way he showed up for others and the impact he had on everyone around him. His passion, loyalty, and love for this brotherhood will never be forgotten. May we honor his memory by living with the same kindness, selflessness and generosity that he showed to everyone around him.”

The university released a statement calling the situation a tragedy. School officials offered their deepest sympathies to Baker’s family and friends while reminding the campus community that university counselors are available to grieving students.

Fernandez-Cruz was charged with hit-and-run resulting in death, failure to give information and render aid, failure to yield the right of way, and driving without a license.

He is being held without bond at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center and an ICE detainer in place.

Dirt Bike vs Toyota - Rider Didn't Respawn

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Major Crash Investigation Unit are investigating a fatal collision involving a vehicle and a dirt bike that occurred in the North Division.

 On Thursday, March 27, 2025, at approximately 9:30 p.m., North Division officers responded to a vehicle crash with personal injury call for service near the intersection of Brookshire Boulevard and Oakdale Road. 

Jermaine Holly Photo via FaceBook

When officers arrived on scene, they located a damaged dirt bike and an unresponsive rider, Jermaine Holly, 18, in the roadway. Nearby was a damaged Toyota SUV. 

MEDIC transported Mr. Holly to Atrium Health where he was pronounced deceased.

Initial investigation by the CMPD Major Crash Investigation Unit indicates Mr. Holly operating a dirt bike without lights on Brookshire Boulevard when he struck a Toyota SUV that was turning onto Oakdale Road. Mr. Holly was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The driver of the Toyota, Marlen Morrow, 52, was uninjured and was not impaired.

 Mr. Holly’s next of kin has been notified of his death.

Maya Jones - "Steel Knife to His Windpipe"

Maya Jones Photo Courtesy MCSO 03/24/2025

According to CMPD, on Monday, March 24, shortly after 2 a.m., officers responded to an assault with a deadly weapon with injury call for service in the 3419 Burkland Drive. Upon arrival, officers discovered a victim with stab wounds. 

The victim was transported by MEDIC to Novant Presbyterian Medical Center and pronounced deceased by medical staff.

The victim in this case has been identified as Shamaree Bell-Brown, Black Male age 20.

At the scene, Providence Division officers identified and arrested Maya Jena Jones, 20, as a suspect in this case.

Detectives have charged Jones with Murder, and she has since been transferred to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.

Cedar's Take:

No surprise CMPD's latest homicide arrestee was charged with domestic violence 3 days before Christmas last  year and released on an unsecured bond the next day.  

It took her exactly 3 months to finish the murder of her boyfriend Shamaree Bell-Brown, age 20. 

Bonus points if the deceased turns out to be the father of her baby due in approximately six months.

When you stab someone to death it's personal and a level of hate and anger most people find hard to comprehend.

Amazing how these people behave. They have zero impulse control. 

At her first court appearance yesterday she was denied bond and will be held at least until her next court date on April 11th.

The prior arrest according to court records:

On Sunday, December 22, 2024, at 7:06 PM, CMPD Officers responded to 3419 Burkland Dr Apt regarding Domestic Violence Assault call for service. 

Upon Officers arrival, Officers spoke with the suspect Maya Jones. Jones stated that her and her boyfriend/victim (Shamaree Bell- Brown) got in verbal argument that turned physical. Jones stated that the argument started over Bell-Brown liking other female social media pictures. 

Jones stated that she went to grab his belonging to throw them outside and that's when Bell-Brown grabbed her by the arms and shook her. Jones stated that she had glass cup in her hands that she attempted to hit him but accidently struck herself in the face causing her an injury to her face. 

Maya Jones Photo Courtesy MCSO 12/22/2024

Jones stated that her brother then came to the residence and assist Bell-Brown out the residence. Jones stated while her brother was removing him, fight broke out between Bell- Brown family and hers. 

She stated that the police arrived shortly after. Bell-Brown stated that while they were inside of Jones room, when an argument occurred. 

He Stated that it started becoming physical, where Jones started grabbing her shirt and neck. Bell- Brown stated that Jones scratched him all over his chest and neck. Bell-Brown stated that he never hit her. He continues to state that her brother then came to the residence and forced him outside before they got in fight. Bell-Brown stated that the scratches on his chest and neck came from Jones prior to the fight with her brother.

Released on an unsecured bond it was only a matter of time:

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 at Novant Presbyterian Main.

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 (a) 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.

These people are messed up. They are violent with no impulse control and same behavior at WalMart, Popeyes or Spirit Airlines. There is no redemption. Incarceration saves lives.

[Chorus: Rihanna]

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn?
Well, that's all right because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry?
Well, that's all right because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

[Verse 1: Eminem]

I can't tell you what it really is, I can only tell you what it feels like
And right now, there's a steel knife in my windpipe
I can't breathe, but I still fight while I can fight
As long as the wrong feels right, it's like I'm in flight
High off her love, drunk from her hate
It's like I'm huffin' paint and I love her, the more I suffer, I suffocate
And right before I'm about to drown, she resuscitates me
She fuckin' hates me, and I love it — "Wait!
Where you going?" — "I'm leaving you!" — "No, you ain't!
Come back!" — We're runnin' right back, here we go again
It's so insane, 'cause when it's goin' good, it's goin' great
I'm Superman with the wind at his back, she's Lois Lane
But when it's bad, it's awful, I feel so ashamed
I snapped, "Who's that dude?", I don't even know his name
I laid hands on her, I'll never stoop so low again
I guess I don't know my own strength

[Chorus: Rihanna]

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn?
Well, that's all right because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry?
Well, that's all right because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

Drill Baby Drill

When CMPD Officers arrived on scene they likely found an engaged spouse Allan McCoy Dexter, III armed not with a gun but a cordless power drill.

Seems Mr Dexter decided he'd drill some sense into his live in girlfriend spouse and/or domestic partner Shannon Pope.

Allan Dexter Photo Courtesy MCSO

Allan Dexter charged with 1st Degree Kidnapping, Communicating Treats, Misdemeanor Domestic Violence, Assault With a Deadly Weapon Intent to Kill and Attempted First Degree Murder.

According to court records Dexter "unlawfully, willfully and felonsely did assault Shannon Pope with a POWER DRILL a deadly weapon with the intent to kill her." 

There are no reports as to the condition of Ms. Pope. Medic declined to provide details if any.

This is might be Dexter's first rodeo with felonies but he has a rather colorful history of misdemeanor traffic offenses dating back to 1988.

Judge Matt Newton declined to grant bail and at least for now he'll remain a guest at the McFadden Hilton aka Meck County Jail until at least April 15th. Additionally a public defender request was granted at this morning's court hearing.

Adios Amigo!

This angry cuss is Luis Angel Arellano arrested overnight after officers discovered he had outstanding warrants for failure to appear on charges of resisting arrest and concealed weapons.

Photo Courtesy MCSOC March 23, 2025

 As you can imagine this is not Mr. Arellano's first rodeo.

Photo Courtesy MCSOC June 6, 2022

But on his prior arrests he was given an unsecured bond which resulted in his failure to appear.

2008     SIMPLE ASSULT - DA Dismissed

2011     ASSAULT AND BATTERY - DA Dismissed

2022     CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPON - DA Dismissed

2022     RESISTING - DA Dismissed

2022     CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPON (4 Counts) - DA Dismissed

2022     ASSULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON (4 Counts) - DA Dismissed

2022     RESISING (4 Counts) - DA Dismissed

2022     COMMUNICATING THREATS (4 Counts) - DA Dismissed

CP gets it, why bother to show up since the DA will just dismiss the charges anyways.

Plus doubt the MCSO will check with ICE since that's not their job. But considering flights departing daily maybe someone should have a look? Odds are this armed violent angry cuss needs a vacation.

Everything is a Hate Crime

Ardrey Kell in the news again and its always bad.

According to the local once a newspaper:

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is asking the FBI to investigate whether the reported March 7 assault of a 15-year-old Ardrey Kell High School student for wearing a hijab by another student in a math class was a hate crime. 

The student, who has not been named, suffered multiple broken bones in her face and jaw after her family alleges she was punched repeatedly in class and called slurs by a football player after days of what her family called anti-Muslim bullying. 

The department said it submitted the school resource officer’s incident report to the FBI for further investigation. 

When asked for a copy of that incident report on Wednesday, CMPD’s police records division said a corresponding report did not exist. On Thursday, the department acknowledged its existence in a social media post. 

The girl’s family said at a press conference Wednesday that they want the incident investigated as a hate crime, and that they are “very likely” to sue Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools over the handling of the assault. 

Jibril Hough, the spokesperson for the family, spoke at the press conference about the incident, Hough criticized the school for its handling of the situation, indicating that the school had attempted to cover up the incident. He mentioned that the school issued threatening language to the parents, advising them not to talk to the media. 

Hough condemned the school for not taking a stronger stance on racism and Islamophobia and for mishandling the situation.

Hough being escorted out of a Trump rally

The family alleged that by not calling an ambulance promptly after the assault, and instead requesting the student’s mother take her to the hospital, CMS did not handle the situation properly. 

They also alleged the district advised them not to go to the media about the assault. However, CMS Chief Operations Officer Tim Ivey said at a separate press conference on Wednesday that the district followed the proper protocols, and denied that anyone with the school district told the girl’s family not to speak to the media. “Ardrey Kell High School followed all policies and procedures as outlined in the board policy manual and student code of conduct,” Ivey said Wednesday. 

The school SRO “was present at the scene and immediately initiated the appropriate investigative processes.” Both the female student and the football player, also 15, were suspended for 10 days. 

The boy alleged the female student hit him first, and CMS referred to the incident as a “fight,” her family said.

CMS did not comment on the reason for the suspension, citing privacy laws. The girl’s family said she will not be returning to Ardrey Kell and they will appeal her suspension.

The Eyes Have It - Proof Normal Has Left Charlotte

If you're native to the Carolina's as I am you're used to an odd assortment of people and in some cases family.

My brother has a father-in law who has more money than sense but lives like a pauper amd might bathe once a month. I've got a sister in law who's a nurse she weighs about 350 and I'd not let her near me if I was dying right now

A couple of cousins who are mountain folk good people but I'd not eat anything they bring to a family reunion picnic. 

There are a couple of distant nephews that while they are not brothers they look like twins.

Aunts who prefer road kill to hunted game because you don't have to worry about the "shot".

There's a cousin Eddie and a Cramer in the family. But all things considered they look pretty normal compared to what lately shows up on the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's arrest log.