Charlotte man shot and killed working at club was ‘one of a kind’
An employee of Diamonds of Charlotte, an adult entertainment club in a north Tryon neighborhood was shot and killed just before 3 a.m. Saturday. Now a 21-year-old has been arrested for his death.
Nicholas Davon Cole, 26, was shot at 2:45 a.m. in the 100 block of Atando Ave in north Charlotte, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Medic transported him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A person affiliated with Diamonds told The Charlotte Observer’s news partner WSOC that a group of five to six people tried to enter the club, but one of them was turned away due to a fake ID. That led to a fight between the doorman of the club and the group. Shots were fired shortly after, fatally striking the victim, according to the source.
The Observer could not reach the business.
Homicide unit detectives arrested Adonis Smith, 21, for Cole’s death, according to a CMPD news release. He is charged with first degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Smith was also shot in the original incident and is hospitalized in critical but stable condition, CMPD officials said in a news release. He will be taken into custody once he is released from the hospital.
Family and friends have started a gofundme for Cole’s family to help with his funeral expenses. As of Tuesday afternoon it raised $4,671 towards a $10,000 goal.
Cole is a graduate of Albemarle High School and is remembered as a great wrestler and football player, according to the gofundme. He is affectionately known as “Big Nick” among his family and friends.
“He was a leader, he had the kindest heart, and he lit up any room he walked in,” Christian Moon, organizer of the fundraiser wrote. “He was an amazing son, brother, and uncle. Definitely one of a kind.”
CMPD asks anyone with information about the case to call its homicide unit at 704-432-8477 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 704-334-1600.
This story was originally published April 29, 2023 at 10:10 AM.