CHARLOTTE — A man who police say killed one person and wounded three others after firing shots at a southeast Charlotte lounge has his first appearance in court on Tuesday.
Investigators say Jerome Laricky Planter fired multiple rounds outside of Fusion Lounge on East Independence just before the bar closed early on Saturday morning. One of the shots killed 33-year-old La’Nard Gaddy, the rest struck and hurt three others.
Police arrested Planter on the Monday after the shooting and charged him with murder, three counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Channel 9′s Hunter Sáenz was in the courtroom learning about new developments in the case, where he also witnessed Planter speak out against the judge and compare the hearing to a circus.
The sisters of Gaddy, who was shot and killed on Saturday, spoke to Channel 9 about the impact their brother had on the family.
“Le’Nard was just a wonderful person; he was a wonderful brother, a wonderful son, and a wonderful uncle,” Shernarea Gaddy said. “He loved his nieces and nephews. He loved his daughter; he was an awesome father.”
Keifer Crafter was with Gaddy last Saturday night and was shot twice himself.
“He was taking me in to get another shot before the club closed,” Crafter said.
According to prosecutors, Planter worked as a security guard at the southeast Charlotte club. That night, he and Gaddy got into a physical altercation over a gun that Gaddy allegedly had.
When asked, eyewitnesses said Gaddy never had a gun in his hand, and it was Planter who pulled out his gun and started shooting.
According to records, Planter has a criminal history. He was released from prison in April 2022 and finished probation a few months after being convicted as a habitual felon. Records also show that Planter has been convicted of possession of a stolen car three times and ten times for breaking and entering a car.
“He shouldn’t have even been working there, being a felon—a security guard—he shouldn’t have been working there,” Shernarea Gaddy said.
Although this violence will never make sense to Gaddy’s family, they have one common goal: To keep his legacy alive.
“He’s just going to live through us. We’re going to always keep his name alive,” Shernarea Gaddy said.
VIDEO: 1 killed, 3 injured in overnight shooting at southeast Charlotte lounge
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