CHARLOTTE — A man has been charged with shooting and killing a 19-year-old man near Northlake Mall, according to police records.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said Aveon Baker was found shot, just after 8:30 p.m. on April 20, outside the Wendy’s restaurant. Life-saving measures were unsuccessful.
On Saturday, police arrested Khamarin Floyd, 18, and charged him with first-degree murder.
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Channel 9 was at the scene the night of the shooting as Baker’s relatives arrived and learned of his death.
A large police presence could be seen in the parking lot. Patrol vehicles, lights, police tape and dozens of officers surrounded the area.
His loved ones said it’s hard to grasp how the young man was working at Wendy’s one moment, then gone the next.
“He was on his job, you know, trying to make an honest living for yourself as a teenager ... Trying to work and stay out of trouble,” said Snow Simmons, a friend of the family. “And somebody just took his life.”
Simmons said Barker made the most of his 19 years of life by working hard and loving his family.
“He was a young man that graduated high school with good grades, out here working trying to maintain a positive life and live so he can be the best he can be for his siblings,” she said.
Baker’s death isn’t the family’s first violence-related heartache. In 2011, Baker’s mother, Antoinette, died in a bar fight.
According to reports from the time, Antoinette was trying to break up a fight outside a bar on South Cedar Street when she was fatally stabbed.
Friends, family and co-workers of Aveon Baker are calling for change.
“Not even just Aveon, and I want justice to be served for all these people that have lives that has been taken, senselessly, in this city,” Simmons said.
Baker’s loved ones are also asking for any help they can get in the search for answers.
“Let CMPD know what’s going on, because it could, like I said, you could be, anybody can be, in his family’s shoes,” Simmons said.
Floyd will have his first court appearance on Tuesday.
Full statement from Wendy’s:
“We are deeply saddened by this act of violence and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of our restaurant team member. We believe this to be an isolated incident and we will continue to work with law enforcement on their investigation. We will also provide support and counseling services to our team members.”
(WATCH BELOW: ‘Stop the violence’: Woman calls for change after shooting at Northlake Mall)
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