CHARLOTTE — Two teens have been charged in connection to a shooting that left a 19-year-old seriously hurt in uptown Charlotte earlier this month, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Around 8:45 p.m. on April 17, police said they were called for an assault with a deadly weapon involving kids on bicycles on West Martin Luther King Boulevard, near Romare Bearden Park.
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Police said they found a 19-year-old man who had been shot once inside his car. He was taken to the hospital with “life-threatening injuries,” according to officers.
On Wednesday, CMPD announced Jermaine Walker Jr., 18, and Makahi Alfayad, 18, were arrested and charged for the shooting. Police said Alfayad is accused of pulling the trigger.
According to police, cell phone video shows the victim and the suspects in a fight. One of the suspects punched the victim in the back of the head before shots were fired into the car.
Police said a bullet lodged in the victim’s spine and he will likely be paralyzed for life.
Alfaya has been charged with three counts of firing a weapon into occupied property and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury. Walker Jr. was charged with assault by pointing a gun.
CMPD said the investigation is ongoing and the department has increased its proactive and reactive responses to focus on aggressive bike riders in the city.
After the shooting, a woman sent Channel 9 video of the chaotic scene from her 24th floor apartment. Police can be seen flooding Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in the clip.
“I had my slide glass open, and I heard. I thought it was three or four really loud shots,” she said.
A few floors down, Mark Taylor said he also heard the shots.
“I guess the guy that got hit hit the gas and bumped into this other car,” Taylor said. “All the other people around ran off. I kind of caught the tail end of things so I don’t know what led up to it.”
Taylor said he has seen the bikers who were involved in the incident on a regular basis uptown.
“Normally they are just in the way, not always causing problems,” he said.
Earlier in April, police told Channel 9 they were aware of a group of bikers that was causing problems in uptown Charlotte. CMPD said in some cases, it has made arrests.
“They know what they are doing is wrong, but it is fun,” said CMPD Major Brian Foley. “That is what it is, a joy ride through the city.”
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Channel 9 asked police if it’s the same group behind Sunday’s attack, and if there’s anything the public can do to help. In an earlier news conference, police said it is still to early to tell.
“For those people who need to be held accountable, we’re here to make it clear, this is simply unacceptable,” said Lt. Stephen Fishbach. “And as long as you continue to behave in this manner, know that the police department is going to continue to pursue this case until you are held accountable.”
The shooting was a violent end to what had been a busy family weekend uptown. Easter Sunday was the last day of Charlotte Shout -- which brought thousands of families to uptown Charlotte.
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