Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a string of five shootings in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area, with one of them being in the United States illegally after crossing the southern border, according to reports.
Carlos Roberto Diaz, 18, and an unnamed 16-year-old juvenile were arrested in connection with the shootings. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are not looking for any other suspects.
“These are brazen crimes. These crimes have put our community in danger and have created a safety hazard for our community,” Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said at a news conference.
The charges against Diaz include one count of first-degree murder, two counts of shooting into an occupied vehicle, one count of conspiracy to commit murder, five counts of attempted murder, two counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling and one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious bodily injury.
The 16-year-old suspect is charged with first-degree murder and additional charges are expected.
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Carlos Roberto Diaz, 18, was arrested in connection with a string of five shootings in Charlotte. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department)
Diaz, originally from Honduras, was in the United States illegally when he was arrested, sources told WSOC. In 2019, when he was 14, Diaz had an encounter with Border Patrol along the Rio Grande in Mexico, the outlet reported.
The shootings all happened between 1 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Metro and Steele Creek divisions, police said in a news release.
On Thursday morning, officers noticed a suspicious vehicle that matched a car linked to the shootings in a patrolled area on East Arrowood Road, conducted a traffic stop and located a juvenile suspect inside the vehicle believed to be linked to the shootings. Officers took the suspect into custody and recovered a stolen firearm, shell casings and an extended magazine.
Detectives believe the 16-year-old intended to engage in further violent criminal activity.
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The shootings all took place between 1 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. (Getty Images)
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The 16-year-old admitted to police that he and Diaz carried out the shootings after going to a party together, leading to Diaz’s arrest, according to WSOC. The FBI assisted Charlotte-Mecklenburg police in arresting Diaz.
Police said the shootings appear to be related, based on the description of the car driven by the suspects, the shell casings from the firearms used, the time period and the proximity. Laboratory analysis has confirmed that at least three of the incidents are related, and laboratory analysis will continue to determine if the other incidents are related.
The shootings remain under investigation.
