Man wearing orange vest forces way into south Charlotte home, pulls gun on woman

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said it’s searching for a man who pulled a gun on a woman in south Charlotte and forced his way into her home.

Police said it happened on Vista Grande Circle around 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 23.

Officers released images and video of the suspect they said was wearing an orange vest and holding a clipboard when he knocked on a woman’s door.

“I don’t wish this on my worst enemy,” said Alecia Derry, the victim’s daughter. “She opens the door, invites him in and he pulls out a gun and says, ‘You’re being robbed at gunpoint.'”

Police said the victim opened the front door, and the man pulled out a gun. Derry said her grandmother was also in the home at the time.

“My mother was terrified,” Derry said. “He came in and had them both at gunpoint.”

Derry said he forced his way into the home and held a gun to her mother's face.

“He said, ‘They said that you have plenty of money and plenty of medication,’” Derry said. “That’s what we want to know. Who was they?”

She said he stole items and left the scene.

“We thought it was the city of Charlotte because my mother and grandmother get curbside service because of their disability,” Derry said.

Derry said no one in her family recognizes the man, but thought it was unusual he knew exactly where to go once inside.

“He went to the living room and straight to my mother’s room, so that makes me believe somebody told you the setup of our home,” Derry said.

Channel 9 spoke to a friend who said the family is shaken up.

"Talked to the daughter. She's doing fine, but you know, everybody is got to be bent out of shape because it just doesn't happen," Carmelina Ferrero said.

The man is approximately 6 feet, 4 inches tall and in his late 30s to early 40s. He was wearing torn jeans, a black jacket, a red hat and an orange safety vest while carrying a clipboard.

Derry said her family has been restless knowing an arrest hasn't been made.

“I’m living paranoid because I never know who’s watching me,” she said. “I never thought this would ever happen to us.”

The family said they are offering a $500 reward for anyone with information that leads police to an arrest.

Police are asking anyone who knows the suspect or has information about this case to call 911 or contact CrimeStoppers at (704) 334-1600.

Cox Media Group