5 Things to Know: Homicide Total Spikes Before End of Year

Homicide Total Spikes Before End of Year

The year came to a violent end in Charlotte this week as six people were killed in the city between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, at least five of whom by gun violence.

Following three shooting deaths on Sunday, the most recent killing came around 9:30 p.m. on Monday night when police responded to a new shooting call on Dave McKinney Avenue in the Newell area of northeast Charlotte and found 33-year-old Diondre Bittle dead from a gunshot wound.

On Thursday, police arrested a 35-year-old woman and charged her with Bittle’s murder as well as robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

In the above map tracking last year’s homicide total, black markers signify deaths by gun violence, green markers signify killings that may be deemed justified, red markers signify stabbings, yellow markers signify murder by vehicle, purple markers signify deaths by trauma or unknown cause, and blue markers signify police killings.

Bittle’s was the 127th total homicide tracked by Queen City Nerve in Charlotte this year. It should be noted, however, that our total differs from the official tally released by CMPD, which was 110, because we count justified homicides such as self-defense and police shootings. Discrepancies also occur if CMPD changes certain rulings — such as deeming a death originally investigated as a homicide to be a manslaughter, for instance — without reporting it publicly.

Last year’s number is up from the 98 homicides tracked by Queen City Nerve in 2023 and the highest total since we began tracking homicides in Charlotte in 2020.

Cooper Commutes Death Sentence for 15

On his last day in office Tuesday, Gov. Roy Cooper commuted the sentences of 15 people on death row in North Carolina, transitioning their sentences to life without the possibility of parole.

According to a New Year’s Eve press release, Cooper commuted the sentences after a thorough review of detailed petitions for clemency submitted by the defendants, input from district attorneys and the families of victims, and close review by the Governor’s Office.

“These reviews are among the most difficult decisions a Governor can make and the death penalty is the most severe sentence that the state can impose,” stated Cooper in the release. “After thorough review, reflection, and prayer, I concluded that the death sentence imposed on these 15 people should be commuted, while ensuring they will spend the rest of their lives in prison.”

Due to ongoing litigation, no executions have been carried out in North Carolina since 2006. Following Tuesday’s commutations, the state now has 121 offenders on death row. The Governor’s Clemency Office received petitions for clemency from 89 people incarcerated on death row and reviewed, researched, and considered all of them before choosing the 15 that were granted Tuesday.

The only sentence to be commuted from a Mecklenburg County conviction was that of 49-year-old Elrico Fowler, convicted in 1997 for murder of Bobby Richmond two years previous during a robbery at a Howard Johnson’s motel where Richmond worked in Charlotte.

Stein Signs Executive Order for Hurricane Relief

In his first action in his new role on Thursday, NC Gov. Josh Stein on Thursday signed five executive orders related to hurricane relief in western North Carolina, accelerating accessibility to temporary housing and the repair of private roads and bridges.

According to a release from Stein’s office, it’s estimated that, with tens of thousands of houses damaged or destroyed, more than 12,000 western North Carolinians are still without safe housing and an estimated 8,000 private roads and bridges need to be repaired or replaced to reinstate access to emergency services, school buses and other transportation in the region.

“Winter is here in western North Carolina, and we must act quickly to get people in temporary housing, repair private roads and bridges, and keep people safe,” Stein wrote. “I will do everything in my power to make sure we are both thinking creatively and acting swiftly to help our neighbors recover.”

Along with the two orders waiving procurement regulations to help increase the supply of temporary housing and accelerate road and bridge repair, three other orders created the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina, established a committee to advise that office, and authorized an additional 16 hours of community service leave for state employees to volunteer for organized storm-related efforts.

Police Shooting at Coyote Joe’s Could Be Suicide by Cop

A CMPD officer shot and killed a man in the parking lot behind Coyote Joe’s on Saturday, Dec. 28. A release from the department stated that officers responded to a call from an off-duty officer working at the country music venue stating that there was a man with a gun outside the establishment shortly after 11 p.m.

Responding officers quickly located the subject, at which time one officer reportedly “perceived an imminent threat” and shot and killed the man, believed to be 28-year-old Lucas Armstrong, who was a bouncer at Coyote Joe’s. CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings told reporters that it appeared Armstrong was “interested in harming himself” while a 911 dispatch operator stated that the man had been seen holding a gun to his own head.

CMPD reported recovering a firearm at the scene. A number of people on social media who claimed to have been inside Coyote Joe’s at the time of the shooting stated that they were unaware any incident had happened until the police evacuated the building after the fact.

The officer who shot Armstrong was later identified as Joseph Calabro, who began working with CMPD in June 2016. Per standard protocol, Calabro will be placed on administrative leave until the NC State Bureau of Investigation and internal CMPD investigations are completed.

Family Dollar Targeted by Serial Arson Incidents

The Charlotte Fire Department is investigating the third intentionally set fire a Family Dollar location in east Charlotte in a matter of months.

According to a CFD social media post, firefighters responded to a call of fire and smoke visible at the business, which is located on The Plaza just east of Milton Road, that came in at 3:22 a.m. on Sunday and had it under control by 4:05 a.m. No civilians or firefighters were injured in the fire.

“Following a thorough investigation, Charlotte Fire investigators determined that the fire was intentionally set,” the post stated. “This incident marks the third time this business has been targeted by fire in recent months. The estimated property and content loss is $1.4 million.” No arrests have been made in the case.