Charges dropped, man set free in fatal Speed Street shooting

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The man accused of killing another man in the middle of chaos after last year’s Speed Street event was released from jail Monday night.

There were dozens of witnesses to the shooting last year, but prosecutors said they could not get any of them to come forward.

Antonio Thompkins’ attorney said shortly before 11 p.m. that he was waiting to get his hands on Thompkins’ dismissal paperwork so he can be released.

The man accused of pulling the trigger spent more than a year in jail on murder charges.

Earlier in the day, the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office dismissed the murder charges against Thompkins.

Jeremy Smith, his attorney, delivered the news to Thompkins and his family.

“They were purely relieved. He said the same thing he said to me: He did not shoot anybody that night. He’s told them that,” he said.

Thompkins was charged with firing the shots that killed Antwan Smith and injured another man during one of several fights in uptown Charlotte after Speed Street.

Although there were dozens of people there when the shooting happened, police said only one witness came forward, naming Thompkins as the shooter.

However, that witness had a lengthy history of criminal problems, which made his testimony unreliable.

According to the dismissal, since that witness gave his statement more than a year ago, the District Attorney’s Office has not been able to find him.

“It is clear that this witness will not cooperate in the prosecution of this murder,” the dismissal states.

Smith’s family was heartbroken.

“It really took my breath,” said Sonjia Smith, the victim’s mother.

She just marked the first anniversary of her son’s death days ago. Now, instead of heading to trial, she said her family is starting over again.

“I just want justice. I want the right person to be convicted for my son’s death and I want the people, the witnesses, to come forth,” she said.

The District Attorney’s Office and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police did not comment about the case.

However, there is the possibility that new evidence or witnesses could come forward, reviving the murder charges against Thompkins, or pointing police to a new suspect.

WSOC