CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A 19-year-old man is in custody after allegedly shooting five people at Romare Bearden Park during New Year’s Eve celebrations on Sunday night. Police said the suspect was “deemed not to be an active shooter,” meaning he did not continue shooting after the original incident. All five victims, four women and one man, were shot below the knee and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The suspect was quickly apprehended by officers who were patrolling the park and responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call for service after the suspect discharged multiple rounds into a group of people at around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. The department utilized video technology to provide officers on the scene with a description of the suspect, leading to his capture.
After an interview with detectives, the suspect was charged with five counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and one misdemeanor count of going armed to the terror of the public. The suspect was assigned a $750,000 bond and is expected in court on Tuesday.
The shooting occurred during the New Year’s Eve festivities, as crowds gathered to watch fireworks and the lighting of the Queen City Crown during Charlotte Center City Partners’ CLT NYE Uptown 123123 celebration. Footage obtained by Queen City Nerve showed multiple arrests being made after the shooting, though it was unclear what relation, if any, the people taken into custody had to the shooting.
This incident comes less than six months after police arrested a dozen juveniles and seized four guns during Fourth of July celebrations at the same park. Following the shooting on Sunday night, multiple disturbances in the Uptown area resulted in the arrest of 12 people, including 11 juveniles and one adult. Six parents or guardians of the arrested juveniles were cited and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Charges for the arrested individuals include assault on a government official, carrying a concealed weapon, resisting a public officer, and possession of a handgun by a minor.