Man charged in East Meck student's death to appear Friday in court

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Aman accused of shooting and killing an East Mecklenburg High School student will make his first court appearance Friday afternoon.

Carlos Olguin, 22, is charged  with the murder of Chris Allen. Police said Olguin shot Allen Sunday night at a party on Kelford Lane.

Allen was taken to the hospital where he later died.

(Carlos Olguin)

Detectives on the Mobile Enforcement Team and the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team worked together to find Olguin Thursday morning. Detectives spotted him at the Golden Green Hotel on Independence Boulevard and arrested him without incident.

He is charged with first-degree murder.

Several teens told Channel 9 that they were at a house on Kelford Lane for a bonfire Sunday night with Allen, a well-liked football player. A group of people, whom most of them didn’t know, showed up after hearing about the party.

Witnesses said Allen and Olguin got into an argument. Allen asked about some belongings that disappeared, then about five gunshots rang out.

“Literally (the suspect) was just shooting (Allen) over and over and over again, and I just went deaf," said one of Allen's friends.

(Chris Allen)

Friends of the high school senior said they don't know why anyone would shoot him.

"At first I was heartbroken, like so hurt, but now it's just like how could (he) do that? It's not right, it's not OK," Catie Alford said.

Allen was set to graduate in four months.

“We’ve been struggling today, but we’re getting through it,” principal Rick Parker told Channel 9 on Wednesday.

“Dealing with this has been very rough, very tough, knowing that I can't pick up the phone to call or text Chris to talk to him,” family friend Michael Howard said.

A memorial service was held Friday for Allen at East Baptist Church, next to the school.

Allen's classmates released balloons earlier in the day on the school's football field, led by his brother Cody.

They also left roses in front of Allen's picture.

Grief-stricken schoolmates held one another for comfort and the football team huddled up to cheer him as they released balloons.

"It's really emotional. Words can't explain how I feel right now," classmate Dajour McDonald.

McDonald called Chris Allen his best friend.

They had two classes together.

"I talked to him every day, and last week I just talked to him, and he's gone," McDonald said.

Allen’s jersey will be onstage at the graduation ceremony in June.

“I’m going to have a seat for him at graduation,” Parker said, holding back tears.

Channel 9 reporter Mark Becker spoke to Olguin's sister Friday before the court appearance. She said her brother was invited to the party, and when he saw Allen beating up one of his friends, he stepped in to stop it.

"It's just so much stuff coming out," Carla Olguin said. "But I just don't want my brother to be put in a spot where he is being looked at like the bad person, because all he was trying to do was trying to defend."

Carla Olguin told Channel 9 that she hasn't spoken with her brother, but she's hearing the information from other people who were at the party.

Channel 9 dug into Olguin's criminal past and found that he has been arrested multiple times since 2011.

The charges include arrests for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, discharging a firearm into an occupied property and possession of a firearm by a minor.

Some charges were dismissed. Channel 9 contacted the district attorney’s office to learn more about those cases.

Read more trending stories on wsoctv.com:

• Plane makes emergency landing after reported bird strike at Charlotte Douglas
• Man charged with murder in East Meck student's shooting death
• CMS: Students walk out at Garinger HS, prompts lock down at middle school
• NC postal worker admits he failed to deliver mail for years
• Visitor restrictions go into effect Friday at local hospitals due to flu

Cox Media Group