CMPD arrests 3 in town for CIAA in connection to uptown shooting

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have arrested three men in connection to a Sunday morning shooting near an uptown Charlotte hotel.

Police said at about 4:40 a.m., about 40 to 50 shots were fired into two cars and into the lobby door of a building that houses SKYE Condominiums and the Hyatt Hotel on South Caldwell Street.

Officers arrested Howard Wright, 32, Kevin Thompson, 28, and Dereke Bolton, 34, in connection to the shooting.

CMPD said the three men were in town from Tennessee and South Carolina for CIAA Championship events.

Transit police officers heard the shots and saw a man running to a Nissan Altima.

They reported the car driving westbound onto East Fourth Street and officers with the central division were able to stop the car in the 700 block of West Fifth Street.

Passenger Howard Wright ran from the car holding an AK-47, police said.

Officers chased Wright on foot into a parking deck in the 700 block of West Fifth Street and took him into custody. They recovered an AK-47 from Wright as well as a pistol.

Officers then arrested the two other men in the car and recovered two more weapons.

Police charged the men with three counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling and discharging a firearm in city limits. Police also charged Thompson and Wright with carrying a concealed weapon.

Many of the bullets hit a customized Mercedes-Benz van parked in front of the SKYE Condominiums and some hit a red car parked behind it.

Two women were in the car, but they were not injured.

Other bullets shattered the glass in front of the condominium building that also houses the Hyatt Hotel.

The building concierge told reporter Mark Becker that he spoke with a young man who thought he was the intended target of the shooting. The concierge said the man was not hurt but was shaken.

Jessica Brooks was staying at the Hyatt Hotel with her sisters and husband and told Channel 9 she heard the shots.

"It just kept going and kept going and I said to my husband, I think they're shots,” Brooks said.

The family was shocked and saddened to walk out of the building and see the van peppered with bullet holes.

“It's just too bad that someone really doesn't regard life enough,” Brooks said.

Khajirah Guy said they sounded like firecrackers going off outside of her car then she saw sparks flying and heard her windows shatter and realized they were gun shots, and the bullets were dangerously close.

“Basically I was sitting in the driver's seat and my cousin was sitting right here, and as you can see right here, this is where the bullet hit,” Guy said as she pointed to no fewer than eight bullet holes in the side and back of her SUV.

Guy walked around the back of the car to show Becker more damage.

“I guess two more bullets ricocheted right here, there's a bullet right here,” Guy said.

The men are in the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.

Based on the initial investigation, detectives believe that the shooting was not a random act of violence.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

“Safety is a top priority for our student-athletes, member institutions and tournament attendees- whether they are visitors or residents of Charlotte, which the CIAA calls home. We’re discouraged to hear of the shooting that took place on Sunday morning, especially following six days of tournament events filled with community engagement, great basketball, and family reunion styled activities attended by tens of thousands of people without incident.

"We’re still awaiting all of the facts and will be working with the City, the CRVA, CMPD and our partners to fully investigate the incident. Together, we are committed to taking action to identify ways to prevent violent behavior.  While there were hundreds of events that went incident-free over the course of the week, any act of violence is completely unacceptable to us.

"We are exploring ways to create meaningful change in tightening up the parameters of unsanctioned events to ensure the safety of all participants and attendees. We also intend to keep working with CMPD through its “Extraordinary Event” authority to determine new ways we can enhance security.

"There’s a definite sense of urgency here. We’re already developing a committee with CMPD, the City, CIAA and the CRVA to begin brainstorming next steps for significant change and to heighten the safety of CIAA attendees and the community in which we live with our families as well. We are eager to participate in these conversations and making the necessary changes happen. Together we are committed to making the entire event experience as safe as possible year-after-year.”

"We share an 11-year legacy with the city of Charlotte, and see ourselves together in this.

"We also want to commend CMPD for its work throughout the tournament and for apprehending the alleged criminals within minutes of the incident."

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