Man charged after more than 50 shots fired near uptown hookah lounge

CHARLOTTE — Police said they have arrested and charged an alleged gunman after more than 50 shots were fired early Monday near a hookah bar in uptown Charlotte, leaving one person hospitalized.

Police said they charged 43-year-old Cecil Oxner with attempted murder after they interviewed him on Wednesday. Detectives determined Oxner was the driver of one of the vehicles involved in the shooting.

The arrest came one day after investigators released video of the shooting.

People had to duck for cover when shots rang out around 2:30 a.m. near North Tryon Street and 9th Street.

(Watch the video below)

Surveillance Video: Shots fired near hookah lounge in uptown Charlotte

Witnesses told Channel 9 they saw three vehicles in the parking lot of Woodie’s Auto Service and that people in those cars opened fire in the direction of the Babylon Hookah Lounge next door.

The vehicles then sped off, according to witnesses.

Police told Channel 9 that a man in the parking lot was shot. Four cars, as well as the business, were also hit by gunfire.

Channel 9 watched as crime scene investigators placed evidence markers around dozens of scattered shell casings in the Woodie’s parking lot next to the hookah lounge. Officers found more than 55 rifle and pistol shell casings.

MEDIC said the shooting victim was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Police also told Channel 9 that a short time after the shooting, officers spotted a car matching the description of one of the suspect vehicles involved in the uptown shooting.

Units were on a search for a Nissan NV200.

[IMAGES: Dozens of shots fired in uptown Charlotte]

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Uptown Charlotte shooting Police are investigating after dozens of shots were fired in uptown early Monday. (WSOC)

They said the driver refused to stop and led CMPD on a short pursuit, which ended on Peagram Street, in the Belmont neighborhood just east of uptown. All the people inside the vehicle ran away from the police and five were later detained. Police seized an AK-47 and a 9 mm pistol with an extended magazine.

Damajae Williams, 18, and Mudullahi Mohamed, 19, were arrested for warrants unrelated to the incident. Williams had a warrant for shooting into occupied property, and Mudullahi had one for possession of stolen property.

The investigation is ongoing.

After the shooting, neighbors told Channel 9 the violence is becoming too familiar.

“It’s frightening,” neighbor Douglas Martin said. “I live here in uptown. I walk and run here in uptown.”

Channel 9 searched for serious, violent crimes within 1,400-feet of the crime scene since the start of 2021. We found 132 records.

Last November, police responded to the area after gunshots reportedly went off inside the address of Babylon Hookah Lounge, wounding two people.

Neighbors like Martin said they are hoping something will be done to stop the violence.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

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