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‘I’m angry’: Family mourns woman killed in Cabarrus County shooting

HARRISBURG, N.C. — Family members are mourning after a woman was killed in a domestic-related shooting on Hammermill Drive in Harrisburg Monday night.

According to the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, the victim, 43-year-old Chartara Laverta Courtney, was fatally shot outside the home by Willie Lawrence Wimbley.

Wimbley then died “as a result of an apparent suicide,” according to the sheriff’s office.

Investigators said Courtney and Wimbley “were previously known to have been in a dating relationship.”

Chartara’s brother, Darrius Courtney, told Channel 9 that his sister was a mother of four. She also had worked her way up from the manager of a Georgia Waffle House to a regional manager position around a year ago.

“And that afforded her to go to Charlotte, North Carolina,” said Darrius.

Darrius said that while Chartara was thriving in her professional life, she was also the victim of domestic violence at home.

“I believe she knew on the inside she needed to get away from him; that’s what she was doing, and I believe that’s what brought the murder of my sister,” Darrius explained. “This was a guy that sat me down after the first incident to tell me how much he loved my sister ‘cause he knew I wasn’t going for it.”

But Darrius explained how things got worse over the years.

“I’m angry and I’m sad,” Darrius said.

It appears Chartara had tried to leave the relationship recently.

“This incident happened at the house that she was going to move into, so there’s no telling how he got there, if she invited him, or if he followed her,” Darrius elaborated.

Channel 9 reporter Johnathan Lowe learned that Chartara and Wimbley originally lived in Union County before moving to the Charlotte area a little under a year ago.

“She was trying to get away from this man, and he, being the coward that he is, couldn’t handle it. He couldn’t take that,” said Darrius.

As loved ones are trying to process this immense tragedy, Darrius said it isn’t enough to just be a listening ear for domestic violence victims.

“Try to figure out a way to be more proactive, to be more involved, to be more present so things don’t escalate like they have with my sister,” Darrius concluded.


VIDEO: Woman killed, suspect dies after shootout in Cabarrus County



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