Arrest made after manhunt for suspect wanted in 2 shootings, carjacking

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police have arrested a man following a massive manhunt Thursday morning across Charlotte after authorities said three women were carjacked at gunpoint in University City.

Officers had been scouring the city overnight for Corey Perrine, who they said is behind a violent crime spree that spanned at least two counties in 12 hours.

Investigators told Channel 9 it all started with a shooting Wednesday evening at the Thomasville Inn near Greensboro. Police said Perrine and Malachia Jones forced their way into a room and shot a man in the face.

Officials said the victim was airlifted to a nearby hospital where he is in stable condition.

After the shooting, just six miles away in High Point, Perrine then shot Jones at a gas station and pushed him out of the car, according to authorities.

(Malachia Jones)

Police said Jones was taken to a nearby hospital where he was later released and charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon and inflicting serious injury with the intent to kill in connection with the Thomasville Inn shooting.

Perrine then drove a stolen car to Charlotte, where, around 11:15 p.m., he ran out of gas at an apartment complex near Ikea Boulevard in University City, detectives said.

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Police said he abandoned that stolen black car and carjacked three women at gunpoint in the parking lot of the apartment complex, on Lewis Street. None of the women were hurt but Perrine got away with their car, a silver 2013 Chevrolet Impala.

A few hours later, police at the scene told Channel 9 Perrine ran out of gas again, this time on Fincher Boulevard in the Derita neighborhood of Charlotte. He ditched the stolen Impala and ran off, officers said.

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Channel 9 reporter Gina Esposito spoke with a  woman who said Perrine came to her home.

"I was sleeping and someone knocked on the front door," said Deborah Rowe. "I looked out the window and saw a guy walking down the steps. I said, ‘I thought you were my son,' and he obviously wasn't. He said something to me, but I couldn't understand it. But I locked the storm door and I shook my head, ‘No.'"

Law enforcement spread out across the city as they desperately tried to find him.

A CMPD sergeant at the scene told Channel 9 they arrested Perrine before 6 a.m. on Statesville Avenue near Norris Street and only Eyewitness News was there as officers took him into custody.

CMPD charged Perrine with larceny of a motor vehicle and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

He has been extradited to Thomasville and charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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Perrine is being held at the Davidson County Jail with a bail set at $1,075,000.

No other details have been released.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

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