Suspect fires weapon then gets shot by officer near motel north of uptown, CMPD says
A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer shot and wounded a robbery suspect who fired at the officer while running from police near a north Charlotte motel on Thursday, police Chief Johnny Jennings said.
Police on Friday identified the suspect as 33-year-old Shelton Smith. He was in “stable-critical condition” at a local hospital, according to CMPD.
Once Smith is released from the hospital, he will be charged with two counts each of attempted murder and assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer, and possession of a firearm by a felon, according to a police news release. He also will be charged with communicating threats on an unrelated warrant, police said.
Also Friday, police identified the CMPD officer who fired his gun as Trey Hinton, who was hired on Sept. 24, 2018, and is assigned to the North Tryon Division.
It’s the first time a CMPD officer has shot someone since December 2020.
Thursday’s shooting happened outside a Budget Inn in the 4300 block of Old Interstate Road, police said. That’s near North Graham Street and Interstate 85 north of uptown.
Officers went to the motel after learning a person was there who matched the description of a suspect in Tuesday’s shooting and robbery at a nearby Royal Inn, Jennings said at a news conference near the Budget Inn scene on Thursday.
On Friday, police said they obtained warrants in the Royal Inn case charging Smith with robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon.
In Thursday’s incident, the suspect ran when police arrived, according to the chief. The individual then fired once at the pursuing officer in a street outside the motel, Jennings said.
Police recovered a gun at the scene, the chief said.
The State Bureau of Investigation will take over the investigation into the shooting, according to Jennings.
In 2019, Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather III began seeking independent investigations whenever a police officer shoots and seriously injures or kills someone.
Per standard practice, CMPD said its internal affairs bureau “will conduct a separate but parallel investigation to determine whether CMPD policies and procedures” were followed.
“As you can imagine, the officer is distraught over what happened,” Jennings said at Thursday’s news conference. “It’s a very difficult time for that officer. We’re are going make sure we provide any resources the officer needs.”
Previous CMPD shootings
The last time a CMPD officer shot a person was on Dec. 6, 2020, when another robbery suspect, 34-year-old Jemario Bernard Baldwin, 34, exchanged gunfire with Officer Samantha Thompson outside a southwest Charlotte convenience store.
Baldwin was hospitalized with a gunshot wound and later released, police said, while Thompson wasn’t hurt.
That was the only shooting of someone by a CMPD officer that year, the department reported.
In 2019, according to a CMPD internal affairs report, officers were involved in six deadly force incidents, four of which resulted in fatal injuries to the suspect. In five of the six cases, the suspect had a firearm when the officers discharged their weapon; in the sixth case, the suspect had a knife.
In 2018, officers were involved in five deadly force incidents, two of which resulted in fatal injuries to the suspect, according to a CMPD internal affairs report.
In three of the five cases, the suspect had a firearm when the officers discharged their weapon; in the fourth case, the suspect had a knife, and in the fifth case, the suspect drove a car toward an officer.
Reducing use of deadly force
CMPD says it has taken many steps in recent years aimed at reducing the use of deadly force, including new de-escalation requirements. complying with the ”8 Can’t Wait” policy platform, and breaking ground on a new training facility for practicing de-escalation tactics.
Anyone with information about the shooting Thursday is asked to call 704-432-TIPS or leave information anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or charlottecrimestoppers.com.
This story was originally published May 27, 2021 at 1:45 PM.