Man’s neck broken, spine severed in north Charlotte CATS bus assault, CMPD report says
A homeless Charlotte man who tried to take another man’s bookbag on a CATS bus was left with a severed spine after the other passenger attacked him, according to court records.
James Godfrey was allegedly assaulted by Moses Early, 29, at 7:40 a.m. on March 6 near the 7500 block of Old Statesville Road, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police affidavit said.
Early was arrested on March 12 and charged with attempted first-degree murder. He remains in jail under a $200,000 secured bond.
A GoFundMe page set up by the family said Godfrey is a homeless veteran who was living in a shelter at the time of the assault. He will now have to live in a 24-hour care facility because he has been diagnosed as quadriplegic, the page said.
Footage of the assault showed Early boarding the bus at 6:50 a.m. at the Charlotte Transportation Center. At about 7:40 a.m., Godfrey can be seen boarding the bus at Sugar Creek Road and W.T. Harris Boulevard, the affidavit said.
Godfrey walked to the back of the bus, sat near Early, and began speaking to him, the affidavit said. Shortly after, Godfrey began arguing with Early, “standing up and pointing at him,” the affidavit said.
“The suspect appears calm and doesn’t move out of his seat the entire time.”
Godfrey then allegedly tried to reach over and grab Early’s bookbag in the seat next to him. Early then stood and began fighting with Godfrey, records say.
According to the affidavit, Early hit Godfrey in the face with his knee and Godfrey fell unconscious, then Early kicked and stomped on him. Godfrey remained motionless.
Early took back his bookbag and sat down, and a woman tried to help Godfrey sit up a few minutes later. Early got off at a stop and the driver realized he had been injured after finishing her route at the Charlotte Transportation Center, according to the affidavit.
Godfrey was hospitalized and rushed into surgery.
“He needs the entire nation to please pray for him,” the GoFundMe page said. “He has been told the extent of his injuries and outcomes of his future and deemed incompetent to make his own decisions concerning his life & continuous care.”
This story was originally published March 18, 2025 at 3:57 PM.
