DA To Seek Death Penalty Against Couple Accused In Double Murder, Kidnapping

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Curtis Atkinson Jr. is accused of killing his parents in their east Charlotte home in April.

Police say Atkinson then took 11-year-old Arieyana Forney and fled the state. An Amber Alert was issued for Forney and police released a description of a vehicle they believed was involved in the double homicide in Charlotte.

Police in Washington, D.C. received a 911 call from a female who advised she was inside the vehicle that was involved in the incident and gave the 911 operator her approximate location.

Multiple police officers responded to the area and located the 2005 white Impala that was listed in the Amber Alert. Police say the driver of the vehicle refused to stop and a pursuit ensued. A short time later, the suspect vehicle was involved in a minor traffic accident which ended the pursuit, according to a news release.

Atkinson was immediately taken into custody.  Police say Atkinson is the uncle of Forney. A second female, Nikkia Cooper, was also inside the vehicle and was detained after the pursuit. She is also being charged with the double murder and kidnapping.

CMPD is working closely with the FBI, the SBI, the Washington DC Police Department and the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office to further investigate this crime.