Police release photo of man wanted in deadly shooting at Huntersville park

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Huntersville police announced Thursday that detectives are looking for a man who was involved in a shooting at North Mecklenburg Park on Aug. 29 that left another man dead.

Detectives issued warrants against Michael Daryle Withers, 25, for second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Huntersville Police Department is asking that if anyone knows where he is, to contact them.

“He knows we are looking for him,” said Officer Odette Sagilimbeni, Huntersville Police Department. “We are not sure where he is. We know that he has ties to the Charlotte area.”

At around 6:15 p.m. on Aug. 29, officers said they found a man who had been shot at the park on Old Statesville Road. He was taken to a hospital, where he died a week later, according to Huntersville police.

Police identified the victim as 27-year-old Haiishen Ali Mcintyre, a former basketball player at High Point University.

He had underwent multiple surgeries before he died, according to a gofundme page.

#Update: Police say the victim is Haiishen Mcintyre. He’s a former @HighPointU basketball player. @wsoctv https://t.co/ZWhVY3g03K
— Gina Esposito (@GinaWSOC9) September 8, 2021

Detectives said the shooting happened during an argument between people playing basketball and that the case is considered a homicide investigation.

‘Turn yourself in’

McIntyre had just gotten a new job, family members told Channel 9 the day after authorities released a photo of his suspected killer.

McIntyre and his fiancée had also recently moved into an apartment near the basketball court where the deadly shooting happened.

His uncle, Berkley Harmon III, said his nephew was shooting hoops with a friend.

McIntyre’s uncle said it was the friend who got into a fight with the shooter.

His nephew was trying to keep the peace.

Harmon said Wither’s pushed the situation and fired a shot that hit and killed his nephew.

“This shocked our family,” Harmon said from Philadelphia via Zoom.

McIntyre lived on the court and was a standout basketball player at High Point University.

Playing at North Mecklenburg Park should have been joyful, not a cause for mourning.

“I can’t understand why,” his uncle said.

“Our family is absolutely devastated. This act just left this gaping hole,” Harmon said.

The uncle also said the suspect’s family and friends probably know where he is hiding.

“Give yourself your own peace,” Harmon said. “You need to turn yourself in.”

Neighbor Jeff Hinchee lives near the park and told Channel 9 he was saddened by the news and doesn’t understand why someone would bring a gun to a park.

“My kids are grown men now, so I’m so not much worried for them as much. A lot of people have young kids in the neighborhood and they go over there all the time. That’s scary,” Hinchee said.

Detectives are asking anyone who was at the park between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to reach out to them.

“I’m sure it just wasn’t the two of them playing basketball so there are probably 10 other people who had to of been there,” Hinchee said. “But who is going to come forward and basically turn their friend in? Hopefully someone will.”

Call police if you have information.

(HOME SURVEILLANCE VIDEO: Brazen thief steals FedEx package in Huntersville neighborhood)