Man charged with murder after bizarre carjacking in uptown Charlotte parking lot

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police have arrested the suspect accused of fatally shooting a man who was trying to steal someone's car in uptown Charlotte early Saturday morning.

Officials said Albert Washington, 24, has been charged in connection with the slaying of 20-year-old Brandon Clark.

Although police have not said how Washington and Clark knew each other, a source told Channel 9 the two men may have gotten into an argument earlier that day.

Officers responded to a robbery call on West Trade Street between Mint and Poplar streets around 2:15 a.m.

Upon arrival, officers found Clark in the parking lot, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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According to police, the robbery victim called 911 after Clark carjacked him at gunpoint in a parking lot on Trade Street.

"He was able to stand nearby in a safe location and provide some information to 911 as officers were responding," a CMPD major said.

Police said Clark couldn't figure out how to work the vehicle so he got out and ran.

While on the phone with authorities, the victim said when Clark got out of the vehicle he was shot by someone else.

The gunman was later identified as Washington.

(Albert Washington)

According to police, Washington was arrested Monday during a traffic stop on Dundeen Street and taken into custody for questioning. Officials said cocaine was found during the arrest and he was subsequently charged with murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, posession of cocaine and possession of marijuana.

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A 23-year-old woman, who did not want to be identified, was in her car in the parking lot when the gunfire erupted.

“It was just boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,” she said.

The woman's car was shot into but she was not injured.

“It went in the windshield, and that one's in the back seat,” she said. “This one came through the top of the car and is back there somewhere, and this one got stuck in the door jamb.”

A nearby occupied apartment on 5th Street was also struck by a bullet, but no one was injured.

Channel 9 was there as officers canvassed the area looking for additional witnesses to the incident.

Police said the scene brought a lot of people out of their apartments. They said they interviewed a number of witnesses and canvassed the area for surveillance video.

Queenetta Watkins said she lives in the City View Towers next to the parking lot where the shooting happened.

"You caused other people's lives to be in danger and at risk, and we just have to be careful with those things going on," Watkins said.

Hours after the shooting, the parking lot was packed with families decked out in green for the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

"That's unacceptable, especially because this is the City Center. If this place is not safe, I don't know which place in Charlotte should be safe then," neighbor Mrugesh Verekar said.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit detective. Detective Helms is the lead detective assigned to the case. The public can also call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or visit the Crime Stoppers website.

This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

Cox Media Group