Charlotte man fired a gun at CMPD, but told them it was to get their attention
Charlotte police officers arrested a man who fired a gun at them on Tuesday, but he had an explanation.
According to a police affidavit filed in court, the suspect said he was only firing at the ground in their direction to let them know he needed help, as a group was coming after him.
Lance Wade Graham was charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill after firing shots at Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers at 8503 North Tryon Street at 10:48 p.m., according to the incident report.
Graham told police that people hanging out with with his ex-girlfriend were chasing him and trying to kill him.
He was “running for cover throughout the evening,” he told police. When someone shot at him, he shot back six times and then asked a clerk at a Hampton Inn to call police.
The affidavit said Graham saw two police cars drive by at the time and fired two shots at the ground in their direction to “let them know that it was serious.” The officers driving by the hotel saw an armed Graham, the affidavit said, and saw him fire at least one shot.
One of the officers told Graham to drop his gun, but Graham fired another shot. He then dropped the magazine out of the gun and then dropped the weapon itself, the affidavit said.
Graham was released after posting a $150,000 secured bond, according to Mecklenburg County online jail records.
