Man killed at Mi Cabana restaurant in Charlotte was shot at ‘close range’

Two men accused of shooting a 23-year-old man at “close range” at an east Charlotte bar in April are facing murder charges, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police.

In June, Jefry Gonzalez Artica, 22, was arrested in Louisiana on charges of shooting and killing Javier Martinez Hernandez at Mi Cabana Bar & Billiards, located in the 200 block of Eastway Drive, a CPMD press release said. On Tuesday, Noel Vasquez Mercado was charged after Gonzalez told police he received the gun from “Cholo,” who was later identified as Vasquez, according to a police affidavit filed in court.

Mi Cabana recently lost its alcohol permit because of the homicide and other problems.

Gonzalez was arrested last year on charges of shooting into an occupied vehicle outside of the North Carolina Music Factory on North Graham Street. The case was dismissed in July due to insufficient evidence, according to court records.

The police affidavit in the homicide said officers responded to a call that someone had been shot at 6:03 a.m. April 13 at Mi Cabana. Officers found Hernandez unresponsive, lying in the parking lot near the front entrance with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead 14 minutes later.

Video surveillance footage from inside Mi Cabana showed Gonzalez handing a gun to Vasquez. Footage showed Vasquez then “attempting to go aggressively towards the victim,” according to the affidavit. He was stopped by staff members.

Vasquez then gave the gun back to Gonzalez, who used it to kill Hernandez, according to the affidavit.

As the pair fled, Vasquez got the gun back from Gonzalez. He tucked the handgun in his waistband, walking out of the business and stepping over the victim, according to the affidavit.

The investigation is ongoing.

This story was originally published August 7, 2025 at 5:00 AM.