CHARLOTTE — Three men were arrested Wednesday after a pursuit and standoff and charged with murder in the shooting death of a 4-year-old earlier that day in southwest Charlotte, police said.
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The three men, Jordon Davis, 23, Marquise Geurrier, 24, and Angelo Hudson, 20, all from Charlotte, are accused of stealing an SUV and firing shots into home on Cigar Street, killing the boy. They were each charged with murder.
On Thursday, CMPD arrested a fourth suspect, Anthony Abel, 18, and charged him with first-degree murder, as well.
Detectives found enough information to learn they got into another stolen vehicle. They were seen at a gas station in Mecklenburg County and officers tried to stop it.
However, the driver didn’t stop, and it kicked off a pursuit, which ended when the suspects stopped, and ran away.
Chopper 9 Skyzoom was over the neighborhood along Rivergate Parkway where the suspects tried to escape, which was about 10 minutes from where the boy was killed.
Three of the suspects were caught in the area of Duval Street in southwest Charlotte, where there was also a standoff at home, sources said. Abel was arrested in Raleigh, three hours away.
The boy was identified as Jayce Edwards.
‘Unimaginable loss’
Channel 9’s Ken Lemon went back to the apartment complex where this all started and found that a neighbor placed roses outside of Edwards’ home.
“For such a young soul, he brought joy,” the neighbor said.
She didn’t want to show her face, but she told Lemon that the young boy was friendly and blew kisses at neighbors. She said she’s happy to hear that the search for the suspects appears to be over.
“When we woke up to the news this morning, I was relieved,” she said.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Maj. Ryan Kendall called the shooting unnecessary and tragic.
“This is an unimaginable loss of the family,” Kendall said. “A 4-year-old child has died over a car, over a stolen car, and I just want that to sink in for just a minute.”
Kendall said this investigation was a tough one for police who feel for Edwards’ family.
“I know this doesn’t bring closure to the family, but we do hope this is a step towards giving them justice that will give them some peace,” Kendall said.
That neighbor who spoke to Channel 9 said she still doesn’t feel completely safe. She normally sleeps with the TV on, but she said she turned it off last night, because she worried someone outside might see the light and shoot into their home.
Channel 9 learned the suspects are accused of stealing multiple vehicles from Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, and York counties.
More arrests and charges are possible.
CMPD officials said they would release more information on Thursday as the investigation continues.
This is a developing story.
VIDEO: Child shot, killed in southwest Charlotte
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