Coffee shop honors memory of fallen Mooresville K-9 officer with fundraiser

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Dozens of police vehicles and members of the community lined up outside a Mooresville coffee shop early Thursday in tribute to a fallen officer.

Thursday is K-9 officer Jordan Sheldon’s birthday, and Clutch Coffee on West Plaza Drive is donating 100% of its proceeds for the day to honor his memory and support his foundation, which helps other K-9 officers.

Sheldon worked with the Mooresville Police Department and was shot and killed during a traffic stop in 2019.

Taylor Delorenzo, the coffee shop’s assistant manager, said the show of support is impressive, and it’s why she enjoyed coming to work on such a special day.

“I love doing what we do. I say it’s the best day of the year,” Delorenzo said.

Sheldon’s brother Carson Ledford came by on Thursday. He said seeing the line of cars is just the thing his family needed on a day like this.

“As a family, that’s all we could want … for people to love him as much as we love him and still care about him, and to show up for him,” he said.

'Utterly devastated': Mooresville mourns officer shot, killed during traffic stop

Channel 9′s Blaine Tolison was at Clutch Coffee on Thursday and saw a nonstop stream of cars. The manager estimated more than 500 cups of coffee were sold by 11 a.m.

Customer Shayleigh Russell came by twice to show her support.

“I just wanted to be part of a small little bit of helping out, going to a good cause,” she said.

Ledford said his family will continue raising money in Sheldon’s memory and for the people, the K-9s and the career he loved.

“He cared about what he did. He cared about doing the right thing, and that’s not just something we’re paying lip service to, that’s exactly who he was, he said.

Earlier this year, the city of Mooresville broke ground on a dog park in Sheldon’s name. A memorial scholarship in his name also helps incoming police cadets go through basic training.