CMPD announces arrest of 18-year-old in west Charlotte fatal shooting

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police have announced an arrest in yesterday’s fatal shooting in West Charlotte.

Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology student Jayden Almendarez-Vigil, 18, was arrested in connection to the shooting.

On Wednesday, CMPD responded to a reported shooting at Westerly Hills Park just after 11:30 a.m. After arriving at the scene, officers found Isaiah Shorter, 18, suffering from two gunshot wounds. Shorter was pronounced dead at the scene. CMPD detectives were able to confirm that Shorter was a student at Harding University High School.

On Thursday, CMPD obtained an arrest and search warrant on Almendarez-Vigil and took him into custody without incident. According to a CMPD affidavit, two witnesses were present as Shorter and his friend met with Almendarez-Vigil.

The two were meeting as part of a vape pen purchase that later turned into a robbery attempt, according to the report. One of the witnesses told police that Shorter had gone into the exchange joking about plans to rob Almendarez-Vigil. He then said that after speaking briefly about the intended purchase, Shorter “bear-hugged” the shooter, the report stated. Shorter’s friend then allegedly began kicking Almendarez-Vigil and removed his backpack before fleeing the scene, the affidavit stated.

The witness told the police that he saw the shooter pull a gun from his waistband, which is when the witness began running from the scene. He recalled hearing gunshots ring out as he fled, but did not see the actual shooting take place, their statement to police read.

Police identified Almendarez-Vigil as the suspect through Instagram communications on the victim’s phone and witness accounts. Shorter was found with a gunshot wound to the base of his neck and another to his lower head, police said.

Almendarez-Vigil is being charged with first degree murder. His first court appearance is scheduled for June 4.