Man sentenced after firing shots at woman, kids near police station in east Charlotte in 2019

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A man was convicted and sentenced in connected with a domestic violence situation that ended in a crash and shooting near an east Charlotte police station on Feb. 19, 2019.

On the day of the crime, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said a woman drove to the police station with her children around 10 a.m. to get help following a domestic disturbance when Kendrick Piggie, who was following her, slammed into her vehicle.

After the crash, Piggie, now 32, fired several shots at her and sped off. No injuries were reported.

In a 911 call the victim said, “This man just hit my car and he has a gun, and he’s trying to kill me and my kids. Please help me.”

(Piggie)

Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over three separate scenes in the area of North Sharon Amity Road, near the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Hickory Grove team office.

A trial was held on Nov. 10, 2021 and Piggie, 32, was tried on the following charges: attempted first-degree murder, five counts of discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle in operation, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon with a minor present and communicating threats.

The jury found him guilty of one count of discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle in operation, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon with a minor present and communicating threats. The jury found him not guilty of attempted first-degree murder and one count of discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle in operation.

At the close of the state’s evidence, a judge dismissed three counts of discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle in operation.

Piggie was sentenced to 60-84 months in prison. He was also sentenced to an additional 14-26 months in prison, which was suspended pending his successful completion of 36 months of supervised probation.

(Click the video below for the 911 calls)

The DA’s Office said after the conviction: “In February 2019, Piggie argued with the victim and then began a 30-minute car chase in which he followed her vehicle, which was also occupied by four children. During the chase, Piggie rammed her vehicle, brandished a gun and threatened to kill her. In fear, she ultimately drove to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Hickory Grove Division office, where Piggie rammed her car twice before shooting at her vehicle six times. Two of the gunshots struck the victim’s vehicle. Then, Piggie fled the scene and wrecked his car only a few blocks away. He ran from his vehicle but was located by police at a nearby dumpster.”

The father of the woman involved was shaken up as he told Channel 9 in 2019 that he came to the police station to pick up his four grandchildren.

[LINK: CMPD Domestic Violence Resources]

Reporter Elsa Gillis said she saw the woman's gold SUV in the parking lot of the police station, with damage to the side and windows shattered.

From Chopper 9, a Saturn SUV that Piggie was driving could be seen crashed and resting on its side along North Sharon Amity Road with officers surrounding it. That crash scene was not far from the parking lot of the CMPD Hickory Grove team office, which was roped off with crime tape.

A few blocks away, officers could be seen roaming the parking lot of what appeared to be an apartment complex, searching for the suspect.

Officials said Piggie was eventually taken into custody.

Piggie was charged after the incident.

People who work in the area told Channel 9 they were shocked the incident happened so early in the day right outside the police station.

A store manager who works nearby said he witnessed what happened as he was opening his shop for the day.

"I actually pulled up, about to open the store,” said the manager who didn't want to be identified. “As I pulled up, I hear a gentleman arguing, like yelling from across the street, and I looked behind and he peeled off.”

He said he watched the car pull into the parking lot his store shares with the CMPD office.

"There was a car parked in front which is the gold car that is out there now. It was parked in front of the police station and a car came and rammed it from behind and at that point, I took off running. As I got turned around the corner, was when I heard the gunshots,” said the store manager.

Tenille Banner, with Safe Alliance, said she couldn’t comment specifically on this case, but spoke broadly about the challenges domestic violence victims face.

“This is an epidemic. It continues to happen over and over again in our community,” said Banner.

Cox Media Group