2 suspects sentenced to prison after shooting, attempted robbery at Mr. Cs

CHARLOTTE — A judge sentenced two men Wednesday in connection with an attempted robbery and shooting at Mr. C’s Soul Food on North Tryon Street in March 2020.

Judge Conrad ordered Deonte Curry on Aug. 10, 2021 to serve 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release.

Trevon Ricks was sentenced to five years in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.

On March 5, 2020, at approximately noon, Curry and Ricks attempted to rob Mr. C’s Original Soul Food restaurant, according to court documents.

The suspects went in through a back door and ordered an employee working in the kitchen area to get on the ground.

The employee complied and the two robbers headed toward the front of the restaurant.

[PHOTOS: Worker shot during robbery at north Charlotte restaurant]

Curry pointed a loaded 9mm pistol, equipped with an extended magazine, at the restaurant owner and demanded his wallet.

While the owner put his hands up, another individual, identified in court documents as M.C., tackled Curry to try to disrupt the robbery.

There was a struggle and Curry shot his pistol several times striking M.C. in the chest, stomach, left arm and right hand.

Ricks fled the scene while the restaurant owner continued to struggle with Curry until CMPD police officers arrived. Curry was arrested at the scene, and Ricks was apprehended nearby.

In September 2020, Curry and Ricks pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery and attempted Hobbs Act Robbery and aiding and abetting. They were initially charged with attempted murder and attempted robbery.

They are currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons.

A woman who was shot four times inside a north Charlotte restaurant opened up to Channel 9 after a shooting in March 2020 from her hospital bed.

Magda Chormova was visiting the Queen City from Greece when two men stormed into her brother’s restaurant, Mr. C’s Soul Food.

She said one of the robbers put a gun to her brother's head, but she didn't take him seriously at first.

“I was thinking somebody makes joke now,” Chormova told Channel 9. “It is not true that. Thomas also asked him, ‘You’re joking?’ And he told him, ‘No, I’m not joking. Give me all the money.’”

That’s when Chormova decided to attack the gunman and was shot in the arm. Somehow, she fought through the pain and got up to help her brother again.

She thinks she saved him from being killed.

"He tried with a gun to shoot him, he's still trying to shoot us,” Chormova said. “I believe he didn't want the money. I believe he wanted to kill us."

(Previous coverage) Pair arrested after worker shot during robbery at popular Charlotte restaurant

Two men were arrested after police said one of them shot a restaurant employee during a robbery in north Charlotte on Thursday, according to police.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police were called around noon to Mr. C’s Soul Food Restaurant on North Tryon Street, near West Craighead Road.

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Police told Channel 9 that Trevon Ricks and Deonte Curry walked into the restaurant during lunchtime, tried to steal some cash, and then fired a handgun after fighting with employees.

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Officials said the shooting victim -- 48-year-old Magda Chormova -- is the owner’s sister. She was taken to the hospital but should be OK, authorities said.

Channel 9′s Erin Edwards spoke with the owner, who said one of the men started making threats, saying he would shoot the owner’s sister.

That’s when the man shot the owner’s sister four times right behind the counter of the restaurant, hitting her in the stomach, arm and hand, the owner said.

Police said the owner of the restaurant apparently wrestled with Curry inside the business before police arrived. When officers got there, they quickly arrested him.

Channel 9 crews could see dozens of officers on the scene, and crime scene tape roped off the restaurant. CMPD K-9 units were also called to help and were able to track down Ricks, officials said.

CMPD arrested Ricks and Curry and charged them with attempted first-degree murder, attempted robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Trevon Ricks and Deonte Curry Trevon Ricks and Deonte Curry (WSOC)

Shortly after the shooting, friends stopped by the family restaurant to make sure everyone was OK.

“That’s a friend of mine’s place. He called me to come here and see if his father was OK,” said Loues Politis. "I’m not really sure what happened. He said a couple of guys come in with guns.”

“This guy come with a thing over his head and little did you know, BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM,” said another family friend. “I said, ‘Oh my goodness, somebody just got shot.’”

Three days after the shooting, the restaurant has reopened.

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