One Year Later, Community Honors Victims Killed In Mass Shooting, Leaders Push CMPD To Solve Case

CHARLOTTE — Hundreds of people gathered for a silent memorial walk to remember the lives of four people killed in a mass shooting on Beatties Ford Road one year ago.

Kelly Miller, Dairyon Stevenson, Jamaa Cassell, and Christopher Gleaton were killed when someone opened fire on a Juneteenth block party celebration last year.  Several others were hurt.  City and county leaders joined together with hundreds of others for a moment of silence to remember the victims.  Two Mecklenburg County Commissioners are asking Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police to do more to find those responsible for the crime.

“My concern is why have we not brought in the FBI?  Why have we not brought in the SBI?  These are children of ours,” says District 2 Commissioner Vilma Leake.

“At the county commission, when we don’t get the answers, we say work harder. If they have to work harder, work smarter, work differently, then they should do it, but it’s been a year,” says At-Large Commissioner Pat Cotham.

Last week, CMPD updated the community about their investigation.

“While I can’t share with you great news about an arrest, I can say we’ve begun to develop a better idea of what happened that evening.  And, we still need community members to come forward,” says Lt. Brian Crum with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police.

Crum says the department has worked with the ATF and the FBI to find the suspects.

Crimestoppers is offering a $17,300 reward for information leading to an arrest.

CHARLOTTE — Next week, the Charlotte community will gather to remember four lives lost in a mass shooting that happened nearly a year ago on Beatties Ford Road.

Kelly Miller, Dairyon Stevenson, Jamaa Cassell, and Christopher Gleaton were shot and killed during a Juneteenth block party last year.  Seven others were injured by gunfire, and five people, who were trying to run away, were hit by vehicles.  Investigators say the suspects fired more than 150 rounds into the crowd.  No one has been arrested for the crime.  Mario Black was friends with three of the victims.  He was there when those shots were fired.

“It was like a war zone.  Bodies everywhere.  You had people trying to give CPR to some of the victims that were injured.  People had been hit by cars, people had been shot,” says Mario Black with Million Youth March of Charlotte.

Black designed T shirts and masks to remember the victims.  A silent march will be held next Tuesday at 7 p.m. starting at Friendship Baptist Church on Beatties Ford Road.

CMPD says they plan to soon release an update in this case.  CMPD and the ATF are offering a $22,000 reward for information about the shooters.