PINEVILLE, N.C. — This is how Latasha Christel remembers her husband, James Christel:
“He was like a big teddy bear, big soft guy. I mean he was just. He was silly, really silly. Always laughing. Always making other people laugh,” Latasha Christel said.
[Man arrested after deadly shooting in Pineville shopping center parking lot]
Latasha Christel said the father of three and grandfather loved to go fishing and drive his truck. He had just moved to Charlotte from Charleston a few months ago to “do better.”
James Christel, 35, was shot and killed by Bryan Hancock Monday night in the parking lot of a Pineville shopping center along Highway 51, police said.
Police later said there was no evidence that James Christel had a weapon.
“I’m still confused. I just don’t understand how and why this happened,” Latasha Christel said.
Latasha Christel also wants to know why Hancock’s bond was lowered from $250,000 to $150,000 after he was arrested for second-degree murder. Channel 9 attempted to contact the district attorney’s office and court officials for answers but have not heard back.
“It was big relief knowing they had caught the suspect but now seeing that his bond has been set so low, that’s a slap in the face. We feel like my husband’s life doesn’t matter,” Latasha said.
Family members plan to honor James Christel with a balloon release this weekend and have a memorial ceremony later.
“He did not deserve this. I mean, he just didn’t deserve this,” Latasha Christel said.
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