Four arrested after 4-year-old killed in southwest Charlotte during alleged crime spree

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Four people face murder charges after a four-year-old boy was shot and killed Wednesday morning in southwest Charlotte.

Court documents show Angelo Hudson, Jordon Davis, Marquise Guerrier, and Anthony Abel have each been charged with first degree murder.

CMPD says officers responded to a stolen vehicle call just after 6 a.m. on Cigar Court. Neighbors told WCCB someone fired up to six shots into the home while allegedly stealing a black Dodge Charger.

“There’s no good reason why anyone would discharge a weapon into an occupied residence, as a result of a trying to take a car. It just doesn’t make any sense,” Major Ryan Kendall from CMPD Major Crimes said.

Upon investigation, officers discovered four-year-old Jayce Edwards with gunshot wounds, according to court records. Edwards was sleeping inside a home at the time of the shooting, police say. The child was pronounced dead on scene by MEDIC.

“These are absolutely not random bullet shots. These were fired directly, intentionally into this residence for reasons we don’t know,” Major Kendall said.

Detectives reviewed multiple surveillance videos showing several individuals arriving at the location in a Dodge Durango and breaking into a Dodge Charger, according to police affidavits. A short time later, police say the Dodge Charger is seen on video leaving the area with the Durango in tow.

Court documents reveal that shots were fired into the home on Cigar Court prior to the Durango driving off. Police say multiple bullet casings were recovered on the scene.

Detectives say the Durango was stolen earlier in the morning from Cabarrus County. Investigators also say one of the suspects accused in the car theft and shooting on Cigar Court was seen on surveillance video stealing a Chevrolet Camaro in York County. The video allegedly shows a Durango following the Camaro after it was stolen in York County.

Detectives from York County say they saw several individuals at a BP gas station in Mecklenburg County who were wearing clothing similar to the clothing seen on the suspects in earlier surveillance videos. Court documents say police were able to identify Abel and Davis on surveillance video obtained at the gas station.

According to investigators, the suspects got into a Jeep and left the gas station prior to officers arriving on the scene. Police later determined the Jeep had also been stolen, according to the affidavits. CMPD officers located the Jeep and attempted to pull the driver over but police say the driver didn’t stop and a pursuit ensued. The individuals inside the Jeep are accused of eventually jumping out of the vehicle and running which led to the arrest of Hudson, according to CMPD.

Detectives say Hudson admitted to being involved in the crime spree along with the other suspects charged in the murder of the child.

Police say Hudson, Davis, and Guerrier were taken into custody on Sept. 17.

The fourth suspect, Abel, was arrested on Sept. 18 in Raleigh, according to a news release.

The investigation into this case is active and ongoing. WCCB will release additional information as it develops.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-8477 (TIPS) and speak directly to a Homicide Unit detective.