Ballantyne neighbors tackle, shoot car theft suspect after crime ‘spree’ in south Charlotte
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police arrested two teenagers accused in a string of armed robbery attempts, including one that happened in a driveway of a home in Ballantyne early Tuesday.
In that case, police said a 17-year-old suspected of trying to steal a woman’s car in front of her home was shot by a neighbor. That was the third shooting of the morning in Ballantyne arising from attempted car thefts in what CMPD officials are calling a crime “spree” in south Charlotte neighborhoods.
Victims or bystanders fired at suspects in two of the cases, according to investigators. Police have not released the names of the teens but said they will be charged with crimes “involving robberies and a shooting” after their release from a hospital.
The violence began around 4:35 a.m. Tuesday on Otter Creek Drive, off Ballantyne Commons Parkway in south Charlotte, CMPD officials said in a news release.
A “preliminary investigation indicated an adult male victim confronted two suspects breaking into his wife’s vehicle,” the release states.
Initially, police said, the two armed suspects drove away but “then circled back around and fired multiple rounds at the victim while he was sitting in his vehicle.” The man was not hurt, but his car was hit by bullets, CMPD officials said.
About 15 minutes later, another 911 call came in from Clems Branch Drive, about three miles away. In that case, two people “pulled behind an adult male victim’s vehicle” and one suspect with a gun got out wearing a mask, officials said in the release.
The victim on Clems Branch Drive was armed, according to police. He fired at the suspect before the suspect left.
Six minutes later, officers saw a stolen white Camry matching the description of the suspects’ car. “The driver refused to stop, and a vehicle pursuit ensued” until the driver hit a tree on Bevington Place, police said in the release.
The teen driver, identified by CMPD as a convicted felon, was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The car was reported stolen Jan. 29 near the 900 block of Carrington Drive in west Charlotte, CMPD officials say.
As police continued to search for a second suspect in the earlier incidents, officers say they got word of a third attempted robbery and shooting, near the 14500 block of Myers Mill Lane. When they arrived, police say they found a 17-year-old with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.
CMPD officials say they believe the teen approached a woman at the home with a gun, took her car keys and tried to steal her vehicle. But, according to police, the woman’s husband “began tussling” with the teen and neighbors came to help.
“Nearby, armed neighbors exited their residence and ordered the suspect to drop his weapon,” police said in the release.
“When the suspect refused, one of the neighbors discharged his weapon, striking the suspect. Neighbors held down the 17-year-old suspect until police arrived. The teen was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries,” police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911, or leave the information anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 9:03 AM.