Slain teen had prior conviction for promoting prostitution

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dionte Hunter, who was shot and killed Thursday in southeast Charlotte, was convicted of promoting prostitution when he was 14 years old, Channel 9 learned.

Steven Black is charged in the murder.

Hunter, 17, was on probation from Washington state and he would come to see his probation officer.

His family moved him to Charlotte to give him a fresh start, but someone took away that chance forever.

Hunter was considered to be an excellent athlete, a starting point guard at Garinger High School.

His life ended yesterday after he was shot following a meeting with a girl that was in his car and Black.

(Steven Black)

Hunter spent time in a detention facility in Spokane, Washington, when he was 14 years old while he was under investigation for a robbery.

Detectives with the gang unit had his older brother under surveillance while he was in a juvenile facility and they discovered that he ran a prostitution ring.

His right-hand man in that endeavor was Hunter.

According to the affidavit, 'T.H., the older brother, was providing instructions to Dionte Hunter on how to handle a prostitution business in order to profit and direct the money to bail him out of jail.

According to records, the brothers were accused of soliciting their girlfriends, some as young as 14 years old, through ads on Backpage.

(Dionte Hunter)

The affidavit said that the brother's girlfriend and Dionte assumed control of the business while T.H. was incarcerated.

Hunter was charged as an adult on prostitution and robbery-related charges, spent six months in prison and moved to North Carolina in August 2016.

Hunter’s family moved him to Charlotte to keep him out of trouble, and by all appearances, they were succeeding. He had not been arrested in this area.

Hunter’s death is very painful for his family as they were in court Friday afternoon when Black made his first court appearance.

Hunter’s family members cursed at Black before the judge ordered them to keep quiet.

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