Crime In Charlotte, NC

Shortly before 10:30 pm last night, two motel employees were shot by an armed robber at the Country Hearth Inn, located on Equipment Drive . One employee died at the scene and the other suffered serious injuries but is expected to survive.

View News Videos- Includes surveillance video: WSOC-TV, WCNC, WBTV

Police say the two employees buzzed two men into the lobby of the motel and they pretended to inquire about renting a room. During the exchange, one of the suspects pulled a gun from behind his back and shot 63-year-old Larry Broughton, who was working behind the counter. He died at the scene.

The second victim is 55-year-old Manjula Patel, the motel owner’s wife. She had just come in to work the overnight shift when the robbery occurred. Mrs. Patel suffered serious gunshot wounds but is expected to be okay.

The motel is offering a $10,000 reward for the capture of the men responsible for the shooting & murder. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (704) 334-1600.

Yesterday, CMPD Officers arrested 39-year old Adrienne Patrice Johnson and charged her with common law robbery and breaking/entering after she attacked an elderly woman last Thursday. This is Adrienne Johnson's 53rd arrest in Mecklenburg County and not the first time she has attacked old ladies... (View DOC Record)

Police say an elderly female reported that a woman came to her door last Thursday and asked to use the phone. The victim allowed Johnson inside and escorted her to the phone. Johnson then knocked the victim to the floor, ransacked her room and fled with the victim's money.

Johnson was released from jail last Wednesday (one day before the robbery) for numerous larceny charges for identical offenses. Police say she was arrested on March 28th and released on April 23rd for the following seven crimes:

• On March 1, 2008: Johnson knocked on the door of a residence on Keswick Ave occupied by 73- year old female and asked to use the phone. She then grabbed the victim's purse and ran. She later returned and stole the victim's car using the keys in the purse.
• On February 25, 2008: Johnson knocked on the door of a residence occupied by a 66-year old female on Barfield Drive and asked to use the phone. After she left, the victim noticed her checkbook missing. The suspect wrote numerous checks on the victim's account.
• On February 18, 2008: Johnson asked to use the phone at a residence on Morgan Street. After the victim allowed her inside, Johnson ran off with the victim's purse.
• February 18, 2008: At a residence on Senior Drive, a 70-year old victim gave Johnson a ride in her car after Johnson falsely identified herself as a neighbor's grand-daughter. Johnson ran from the victim's vehicle with her purse.
• On February 3, 2008: A 77-year old victim reported Johnson asked to use her phone to call a family member- saying she lived next door on Tanglebrook Lane. The victim later found her wallet missing and her credit cards used by Johnson.
• On January 23, 2008: A 64-year old woman on Rollingwood Drive reported that she allowed Johnson to use her phone to call a neighbor who wasn't answering her door. She later found her wallet missing and unauthorized checks being written.
• On January 10, 2008: A 64-year old woman on Crestridge Drive allowed Johnson to use her phone and found her wallet missing.

CMPD urges all citizens not to allow strangers into their homes. If an individual requests to use your phone for an emergency, offer to call 911 for them.

William Gosier, 17, was found guilty and sentenced to serve 5 - 6 1/2 years in prison for an armed robbery offense he committed on January 22, 2007.

Police say the victim was working inside a home he was renovating on Rockwood Road when two young black males came inside and pointed handguns at him. They robbed him of his wallet and cash and fled in the neighborhood. Through the course of the investigation, a third suspect was also identified.

Gosier, then 16, and two juveniles, were located and arrested. Gosier was charged with armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. On April 29, 2008, after only 1 hour of deliberation, a jury found William Gosier guilty on all counts. He had no prior record of convictions.

• 01:00 AM: 1600 Grovewood Drive: The victim reported that two black male suspects forced their way into his residence and robbed his family at gunpoint. One suspect is described as 5'8", 140 lbs., thin build, goatee, shoulder length braids wearing all black clothing and the other suspect is described as 5'10", 175 lbs., muscular build, shoulder length dreadlocks wearing all black clothing. No injuries.
• 10:07 AM: 3200 Queen City Drive: A person was robbed in the parking lot by a black male. Suspect is in custody after a stand-off with the SWAT team ended without incident.
• 9:15 PM: 3600 Frew Road: The victim reported being robbed by three Hispanic males, one of which was armed with a handgun and wearing dark colored pants and a white shirt. The suspects fled on foot. No injuries.
• 09:19 PM: 2100 Camp Greene Street: The victim reported being robbed by a known suspect.
• 10:00 PM: 8600 Maggie Lane: The victim reported being robbed of his 1996 champagne colored Jeep Cherokee, by three black male suspects. One was wearing a red shirt and the two others were wearing white shirts. All suspects were armed with handguns. No injuries.
• 11:35 PM: 8800 Albemarle Road: The victim business was robbed at gunpoint by three hispanic males. No injuries.

Reported Robberies/Carjackings on Saturday, April 12th

• 12:44 AM: 3100 Central Avenue: A woman reported that she was robbed of her white 1996 Honda Odyssey van by a black male suspect armed with a gun. No injuries.
• 01:31 AM: 4300 Park Road: The victim reported being robbed by physical force by a black male suspect.
• 01:43 AM: 6700 N. Tryon Street: The victims reported they were robbed at gunpoint by four hispanic male suspects armed with guns. No injuries.
• 02:49 AM: 500 Branch Way Court: The victim reported being robbed at gunpoint by a hispanic male suspect in white truck. No injuries.
• 03:01 AM: 4900 N. Sharon Amity Road: The female victim reported that a black male suspect robbed her of car and made her drive him around. The victim was released in the University area and her car was later recovered burned off of Robinson Church Rd. No injuries. (Read News Article)
• 03:30 AM: 4000 Avalon Avenue: The victim reported being robbed at gunpoint by three black males. No injuries.
• 04:03 AM: 4600 Central Avenue: The victim reported that she was robbed of her gold 2000 Ford 150 by two hispanic male suspects armed with a gun. No injuries.
• 01:34 PM: 6500 Wisteria Drive: Female victim reported she was robbed by a black male who flashed a gun and took her purse. The suspect fled the scene on foot. No reported injuries.
• 03:35 PM: 3800 Beatties Ford Road: The victim reported being robbed of his 1993 silver Buick Roadmaster by known suspects. The suspects were armed with handguns. No injuries.
• 05:43 PM: 300 Arrowhead Drive: The victim reported being robbed of her 1997 white Mercury Mountaineer by two black males. Both suspects were wearing black shirts. One suspect was armed with a handgun. The suspects fled in the victim's vehicle. No injuries.
• 09:53 PM: 6200 South Blvd: The Auto Zone was robbed by three black males- all wearing dark clothing and armed with handguns. The suspects assaulted the store manager during the robbery and fled the scene in a dark colored Honda Accord heading South on South Blvd. The manager was transported by medic with NLT injuries.
• 09:58 PM: 1800 Lansdale Drive: The victim reported being robbed at gunpoint by a hispanic male wearing a black sweater. The suspect fled the scene in a red Nissan. No injuries.
• 10:41 PM: 2000 Countrymens Court: A black male, approx. 5'8", wearing dark pants and a dark shirt armed with a handgun forced his way into the victim's residence and robbed the victim. The suspect fled on foot. No injuries.
• 11:12 PM: 800 Scaleybark Road: The victim reported being robbed at gun point by two black male suspects. Both suspects were 5'10", wearing tan hooded sweatshirts. No injuries.

Reported Robberies/Carjackings on Sunday, April 13th

• 03:24 AM: 3400 Anson Street: The victim reported being robbed at gunpoint by a black male suspect armed with handgun. The suspect is 5'9", thin build, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, baggy jeans. No injuries.
• 11:36 AM: 9800 South Blvd: Three suspects in custody involving a robbery from person in the parking lot of the Texaco Station. The victim was an employee of the business. No reported injuries.
• 05:24 PM: 4000 Glenfall Avenue: The victim reported being robbed by two hispanic male suspects armed with a handgun. The suspects fled the scene in a burgundy vehicle. No injuries.
• 05:51 PM: 8000 Andover Creek Drive: The victim reported being robbed by a black male- thin build, approx. 5'4", short dreads, wearing black jeans and a black hoodie, armed with a handgun. The suspect fled on foot. No injuries.
• 06:55 PM: 1800 Oaklawn Avenue: The victim reported being robbed by two black males armed with a handgun. The suspects fled the scene in a blue Cadillac. No injuries.
• 09:52 PM: 3700 Frew Road: The victim reported being robbed by a black male wearing a black shirt and a black hat. He was armed with a handgun. The suspect fled on foot. No injuries.

Three young men attempted to burglarize a home in Cornelius this morning and ended up in a high-speed chase with police officers.

It all started when a woman called police around 10:30 this morning. She heard a knock at her door and saw three black males in an unfamiliar SUV parked in her driveway. She opened her upstairs window and loudly told the burglars she wasn't going to answer her door. The burglars took off... but not before she got the tag number. Of course, the SUV they were driving was stolen!

A short time later, an officer spotted the vehicle in a nearby neighborhood. He attempted to stop the vehicle but the suspects took off. Officers chased the car down Old Statesville Road towards Huntersville. Huntersville Officers deployed stop sticks- which flattened the SUV's tires. The suspects finally stopped in a residential neighborhood.

The suspects jumped from the stolen SUV and carjacked two Huntersville Public Works employees at gunpoint. The suspects sped away in a city truck towing a trailer carrying a lawn mower. Officers chased the suspects from I-77 to Harris Boulevard and then South on Statesville Road.

During the chase, the suspects drove carelessly at a high rate of speed. They ran several cars off the road and travelled on the wrong side of the road to pass other vehicles. Finally, the suspects jackknifed the truck and jumped and ran from the vehicle. (Watch Raw Video of the Chase)

Police chased the suspects on foot and caught all three. Marquis Gaines, 17, (Top Photo) Timothy Hines, 18 (Middle Photo) & Steven Staples, 18 (Bottom Photo) are facing a long list of charges... It didn't stop them from laughing on camera as they were hauled off to jail.

I know this may surprise you... all three men are career criminals. Police say they are investigating the suspects to see if they were involved in other robberies and break-in's in the area.

Early this morning, an innocent bystander was shot inside his home on Amberly Lane by two men who attempted to rob a family member outside the home.

Police say one of the residents of the home reported he went outside when two black male suspects approached him and attempted to rob him at gunpoint. The victim ran inside his home and the two robbers started shooting at him through his front door.

A family member was sleeping on the couch inside the home when he was shot in the groin. He was driven to the hospital and is expected to be okay.

Shortly after 1:00 this morning, two men from Tennessee stopped to ask for directions at a gas station located off Sunset Road.

The men were approached by three black males who robbed them at gunpoint, shot one of the men and stole their rental car- which police recovered a short time later. Police say the victim's injuries are not life-threatening.

Shortly before midnight, a taxi driver was robbed at gunpoint on Amberly Lane.

According to the CMPD Significant Event Log, 'the driver reported being robbed at gunpoint by a black male and black female. His taxi was stolen but recovered a short distance away. No injuries.'

However, WCNC News reported the cab driver, Willie Cross, is in intensive care after being severely beaten during the robbery! WCNC said Cross was robbed of $35, beaten and the two suspects stole his cab.

What's the real story??

UPDATE: Police have identified the armed robber and shooting victim as 52-year old Bobby Airon Dinkins. Dinkins' arrest history in Charlotte-Mecklenburg goes back to 1992 on charges including burglary, robbery and felony breaking and entering.

Shortly after 7:30 pm, a CMPD Officer exchanged gunfire with a suspected armed robber in a shopping center parking lot on South Blvd. The suspect suffered serious injuries and the Officer suffered minor injuries.

Prior to the shooting, the suspect robbed two clerks at gunpoint inside a Dollar Tree store. An assistant manager told WCNC News that two clerks inside the store were tied up during the robbery, which happened right before closing. One clerk managed to call 911 on her cell phone while the robber was out of the room.

An Officer was across the street on another call and spotted the suspect running from the store. At some point, shots were fired and the suspect was hit. Police are not saying who fired shots or what led to the gunfire.

Since December 15, 2007, six separate armed robberies have occurred at GameStop stores throughout Charlotte. The store located in the University area has been robbed three times since last December. Police have not said if the robberies are connected.

In the past week, three different GameStop stores were robbed. The following is the information CMPD released about the robberies:

2-29-08 @ 7:11 pm: 8000 Providence Rd.
The Gamestop store was robbed by a heavyset black male wearing a black hoodie, armed with a handgun. The suspect fled on foot. No injuries.

2-26-08 @ 7:27 pm: 8900 J.M. Keynes Dr.
A black male with a beard, wearing a gray hoodie and armed with a handgun entered the Gamestop store and robbed the business. The suspect fled on foot. There were no injuries.

2-26-08 @ 8:16 pm: 1800 Galleria Blvd.
A heavyset black male wearing a black hoodie and armed with a handgun entered the Gamestop store and robbed the business. The suspect fled on foot. There were no injuries.

1-16-08 @ 7:07 pm: 8900 S. Tryon St.
A black male wearing a red hoodie and a mask, armed with a handgun robbed the GameStop store. The suspect fled on foot. There were no injuries.

1-04-08 @ 8:03 pm @ 8900 J.M. Keynes Dr.
A black male approximately 5'6" tall wearing a blue shirt, blue pants and a black jacket told the employees of the GameStop store that he had a gun and took property from the store. The suspect fled on foot. There were no injuries.

12-15-07 @ 6:04 pm @ 8900 J.M. Keynes Dr.
A black male wearing a black jump suit stole a PS3 game from the Gamestop Store. When confronted by an employee he indicated he had a weapon and threatened the employee. The suspect then fled on foot. No injuries.

Detectives are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at a Family Dollar Store, located at 6701 N. Tryon Street. (In the Tom Hunter/Hidden Valley area) Police believe the suspects may be involved in similar robberies in the area.

The suspects faces are pretty well concealed, however, detectives are hoping that someone may recognize the suspects distinctive jackets. If you have any information, please contact crime stoppers 704-336-1600.

On Friday afternoon, CMPD University City Division Officers arrested 18-year old Davon Santario McKnight (R) while he was operating a stolen vehicle.

McNight is accused of robbing a woman of her purse and vehicle at gunpoint on Pintail Place. Police say they are investigating to see if McNight is linked to other armed robberies in the area.

Along with the Robbery With a Dangerous Weapon, he is also charged with Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Possession with Sale and Deliver of Marijuana and numerous traffic charges.

Shocker... McNight has an arrest record dating back to 2006. His priors include possession of Marijuana, Driving with Fictitious Tags, 2 Trespassing Charges and Disorderly Conduct.

CMPD Robbery Detectives are looking to identify the shown armed robber. - View video clip of robbery -

On February 7th, the suspect entered the Subway located at 5650 Albemarle Road and robbed the business at gunpoint.

On February 12th, he entered the Subway located at 8112 Idlewild Road and robbed the business at gunpoint.

Witnesses describe him as wearing "aviator" style glasses with gold rims. He is possibly wearing a brown knit cap on his head. Most notably he has a pointed goatee. He is described as 6'0"-6' 2" tall and has a slim build.

If you have any information that will help detectives identify this suspect, please call Crime Stoppers immediately at 704-334-1600.

Last night, an armed man attempted to rob two employees at Floyd's Restaurant, located on North Graham Street. One of the victim employees shot the suspect and he died of his injuries earlier today.

Police say the suspect, Madilyn Archie Baxter, 34, (Shown R) approached the restaurant owner and an employee in the parking lot as they were locking up the restaurant. Baxter was armed with a gun when he demanded money from the victims.

In response, one of the victims pulled out his gun and shot Baxter- causing serious injuries. Baxter died at the hospital the following day.

On Monday, the suspect shown in the photos below robbed a Subway restaurant, located off Brookshire Blvd. CMPD Detectives are trying to identify the suspect. If you have any information, please call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

UPDATE: CMPD Homicide Detectives have arrested two men in connection with the February 3rd murder of Larry Ofaire.

Ronaldo Frieson, 22, (Top Photo) and Rodarius Frieson, 18, (Bottom Photo) are both charged with Murder and Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon.
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Shortly after 4:00 am, CMPD Officers were called to Horne Drive in reference to a man shot. Upon arrival, police found Larry Jerome Ofaire, 57, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest.

Ofaire, a father of four, was transported to the hospital where he later died as a result of his injuries.

Ofaire went outside to retrieve something from his vehicle when he was shot. It is suspected he was robbed because his wallet, cell phone and keys were missing when he was found in the driveway.

If you have any information about the shooting, please call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Robert Dell Hutchinson, 38, was arrested this morning after he robbed and attacked a man with a machete. The incident occurred around 10:00 am at the Sharon South townhomes, located off Regent Park Lane.

According to police, the victim is 47-year old Jeffrey Kaderli. He was suffering from serious cut wounds to his face when he exited his home and called out for help. Neighbors called police.

Hutchinson ran from the home carrying a guitar case and a partially full trash bag. He was arrested a short time later and charged with armed robbery, breaking & entering and assault with a deadly weapon.