Charlotte New Year’s Eve shooter accepts plea deal in Romare Bearden Park charges
The Charlotte man accused of shooting five people in uptown’s Romare Bearden Park on New Year’s Eve entered a plea in court Monday. Under that deal, he could be released in less than nine months.
Daevion “Laday” Crawford, now 20, was 19 when he first faced five charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Police arrested him after he shot into a crowd gathered for New Year’s Eve celebrations to mark the start of 2024.
The five victims were shot below the knee and had non-life-threatening injuries, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department previously said.
Crawford pleaded guilty in Mecklenburg Superior Court to lesser charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.
Chief Superior Court Judge Carla Archie sentenced Crawford to 20 to 36 months. Archie suspended two additional sentences of 20 to 36 months contingent on Crawford’s completion of a cognitive behavioral intervention course, said District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Mike Stolp.
Archie also gave Crawford credit for the 350 days — or about 11 months — he’d already served. That means he could be released from jail in less than nine months.
After serving time, he was ordered to complete 36 months of probation.
WSOC, The Charlotte Observer’s news partner, reported Archie told Crawford in court: “By the grace of God, no one is dead.”
The shooting happened even though Charlotte police officers were already patrolling the park. The location was about two blocks from the city’s official New Year’s Eve event.
This year, the city’s event will be held at Truist Field.
This story was originally published December 16, 2024 at 4:43 PM.
