Second suspect charged in drive-by shooting that killed teen, CMPD records say

CHARLOTTE — A second suspect has been arrested in the fatal drive-by shooting of a 17-year-old boy in northwest Charlotte over the weekend, police records show.

On Wednesday, Curtis Ray Wilson III, 18, turned himself into the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and was charged with murder, according to a news release from the department.

The first suspect, Gerry Martez Burns Jr., 18, was arrested and charged with murder last Thursday, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department records.

Police said Burns drove up in a car shortly before 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19, and opened fire on a group of people at the Ravenwood Hills apartments along Lynn Street, which is near Freedom Drive.

The teen -- identified by police as Jayden Blackmon -- was shot multiple times. Police and MEDIC said they rendered aid, but Blackmon died at the hospital.

Police said it’s unclear if Blackmon was the intended target of the shooting.

Along with murder, the suspect is also facing charges for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Burns is being held without bond on the murder charges, police records say.

Channel 9′s veteran crime reporter Glenn Counts went to the scene where a quiet Sunday had become an active crime scene. Counts spoke with CMPD Major Jonathan Thomas, who is working with his fellow officers to understand what led to this violence.

“There were no calls for a disturbance, no calls for a fight... anything that precipitated the shooting,” Thomas explained. “The initial reports from some people said there was a group of people, the number in that group could be three or five, and none of them stuck around so we were trying to figure out who was here.”

A friend of the victim, Blocc Baby, told Counts that his friend was well-liked in the neighborhood and even had plans to move away with his mother.

“He was a good kid, everyone in the neighborhood loved him,” Baby said, “and it’s pretty tragic that he didn’t make it like it’s sad, it’s so sad, but another day, another life.”

Queen Nash was also close to the teen, who was like family to her.

“It’s really hard,” Nash said. “He’s a young man and he didn’t deserve to have his life taken.”

Charlotte has had 15 homicides this year, which is more than this time last year.

“It’s the lack of hope,” said Lisa Crawford, who runs Mothers of Murdered Offspring, a nonprofit that helps families affected by gun violence. “It’s just our inability to cope with our emotions. We have not taught our kids how to deal with trauma. We haven’t taught our kids how to deal with conflict.”

Police are still trying to find out what type of car the suspects drove and how many people are responsible. If you or anyone you know has any information, please contact CMPD.

This is a developing story; check back at wsoctv.com for updates.

Editor’s note: A CMPD lieutenant initially told Channel 9 the victim in this shooting was 13 years old. The department has since corrected their age to 17, and our story has been updated to reflect that change.

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