Man arrested after father of 3 gunned down in Pineville shopping center parking lot

PINEVILLE, N.C. — A man was arrested days after a father of three children was shot and killed outside a busy Pineville shopping center.

Officials said that around 11 p.m. on Monday they received several calls from the Fox and the Hound restaurant along Pineville-Matthews Road.

When officers got there, they found 35-year-old James Christel shot to death in the parking lot.

According to police, Cristel was sitting on the front patio of Fox and Hound when 36-year-old Bryan Hancock, who was inside the restaurant, came outside.

Detectives said something happened between the two and moments later, Hancock shot and killed Christel in the parking lot.

Channel 9 learned Christel was a truck driver who had recently moved to Charlotte from Charleston with his wife and three kids.

According to police, Cristel and Hancock did not know each other. There’s no word yet on what led to the shooting.

Detectives said Hancock was arrested Wednesday afternoon after being tracked to a home in south Charlotte. He’s charged with second-degree murder.

“People are everywhere doing crazy stuff,” resident Daniel McNebb told Channel 9.

Police said the area is a very safe part of town. In fact, this is the first homicide in Pineville in several years.

“Down here in Pineville, it’s pretty quiet. Good place to live, actually,” Pineville resident Rich Garner told Channel 9. “With as many as we’ve been having (homicides) in Charlotte, it just doesn’t happen right here in Pineville.”

This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

Police investigating deadly shooting at southwest Charlotte strip mall Police investigating deadly shooting at southwest Charlotte strip mall

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