Mother gets long-awaited answers nearly 2 years after son killed in Kannapolis shooting

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Three South Carolina men face first-degree murder charges in connection with the homicide of Khari Wilkes in Kannapolis.

Cordarian Morton, Gaines Adams, and Karmelo Moates were charged following a 20-month investigation into the shooting.

The arrests brought a long-awaited breakthrough for the victim’s family in a case that had remained unsolved for nearly two years. Wilkes was killed just days before his son’s birthday.

Investigators said all three suspects are from the area around Greenville, S.C. The men remain in South Carolina, and authorities have not indicated when they will be extradited to North Carolina.

Shakitta Hill, the mother of Wilkes, was summoned to the Kannapolis Police Department on Tuesday when officers made a break in the case.

“I just cried, I lost it, I didn’t know, I was expecting good news. But I was not expecting that,” Hill said.

She explained that living with uncertainty during the investigation was one of her greatest challenges.

“The not knowing, just the not knowing, I didn’t know if it was somebody from around here, if I might run into them; that was probably, that was one of the hardest things,” Hill said.

Police have not provided a specific motive to the family beyond describing the shooting as senseless.

Hill said her son was killed without cause. “Khari was shot for no reason; Khari should not have been shot,” Hill said.

Wilkes was a father who had planned to marry and start a business. “They took so much from me and my family; this past year and eight months have been the worst time in my life. I’ve been through so much,” Hill said.

Early in the investigation, police released surveillance video showing suspects in the case.

Family members and friends also held a march through the neighborhood where the shooting occurred to raise awareness, while the governor offered a $25,000 reward for information.

Hill said community support helped sustain her family over the past 20 months.

“I’m so grateful, I’m so thankful for everybody who has been there from the beginning and supported my family. It’s been hard,” Hill said.

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