A judge denied bond after a hearing that cited the suspect’s criminal record.
CONCORD, N.C. — Police say a 38-year-old man attacked another man with a metal baseball bat inside Carolina Mall in Concord, sending the victim to the hospital with head and body injuries and leading to an arrest two days later.
The case has drawn attention beyond the initial police report after the victim’s father spoke publicly about the injuries and the moments he believes kept his son alive. Investigators have described the assault as targeted, not random, and court records show the defendant was ordered held without bond pending his next court date.
Concord police said officers were called to Carolina Mall at about 9:45 a.m. on Sat., Feb. 21, after reports that a man had been struck inside the mall. Detectives said the attacker used a baseball bat and hit the victim several times before leaving the area. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment and was released later the same day, police said, though family members later described injuries that required weeks of recovery.
Authorities arrested Mohamed Adams Jr., 38, on Mon., Feb. 23, two days after the reported assault. Police said he was charged with assault inflicting serious bodily injury and booked into the Cabarrus County jail. A magistrate initially denied bond, and a judge later upheld that decision during a court hearing, citing what the judge called a significant criminal history that included prior federal convictions.
Investigators said they believe they have a motive and that the violence was directed at a specific person. Concord police said the victim worked with Adams’ ex-girlfriend and that detectives viewed the connection as the reason the victim was singled out. Officials have not publicly identified the victim. Police have also not released details about how Adams and the victim crossed paths inside the mall or whether any words were exchanged before the attack began.
The most detailed description of the injuries appeared in statements from the victim’s father, Todd Brown, who said his adult son suffered a gash on his head and bruising across his body. Brown said the blows also caused contusions involving his son’s ribs and lungs. He said other people came out when the commotion started and the attacker ran off, a moment Brown believes changed the outcome. “Had others not come out to see it and kind of scare the attacker off, I’m 99 percent sure my son wouldn’t be here today,” Brown said.
Brown said the family has been left shaken by what happened in a public place during daytime hours. He said his son’s recovery is expected to take four to six weeks, and he questioned whether the current charge reflects the severity of the attack. “It does not fit the attempted murder of my child,” Brown said, arguing the case should be treated more harshly than an assault allegation. Prosecutors and police have not announced any additional charges, and officials have not said whether the case could be reviewed for upgrades.
The mall attack also raised questions about what, if anything, was captured on security cameras and how quickly investigators were able to identify a suspect. Police have not described the evidence that led them to seek an arrest warrant on the day of the incident, and they have not said whether the bat was recovered. Authorities also have not released information about whether the victim knew Adams personally or recognized him at the time of the assault, beyond the workplace connection police described.
In court, the judge’s decision to deny bond means Adams will remain in jail while the case moves forward, unless another judge changes that order later. Court records list his next appearance as Mon., March 10. Until then, investigators are expected to continue reviewing the circumstances leading up to the attack, including any interactions among the defendant, the victim, and others who may have been present in the mall at the time.
People who were at Carolina Mall that morning described a sudden disruption in an otherwise routine start to the weekend, with shoppers and workers reacting to the sound of shouting and the rush of people moving away from the scene. Brown said his family has focused on healing while also trying to make sense of why the violence happened where it did. He said he worries about the risk to others if similar conflicts spill into public places. “It’s a concern of mine, and I fear for other people out there who can be attacked by somebody who is a convicted felon,” Brown said.
As of Mon., March 2, Adams remained held in the Cabarrus County jail on the assault charge, and court records continued to list March 10 as the next scheduled court date.
Author note: Last updated March 2, 2026.