Murder charge dropped after guilty plea in robbery case

CHARLOTTE — Christopher Butler pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon on Thursday, resulting in the dismissal of his first-degree murder charge.

He will serve 25-42 months in prison with credit for 359 days.

Butler was accused of killing Abijah Barkley, a delivery driver, during a potential drug deal on March 9, 2024.

Christopher Butler pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon. Under terms of his plea deal, his first degree murder charge has been dropped. He will serve 25-42 months in prison with credit for 359 days.

Butler was accused of killing…
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The incident occurred inside a car, where Butler claimed self-defense, and a witness confirmed Barkley had a gun.

Barkley’s family was distraught over the sentencing.

“He was a father. He was a son. He was an amazing boyfriend,” said Barkley’s girlfriend, Taylor Johnson.

Johnson said she shows pictures of Barkley to their daughter.

She turns two in November and will grow up not knowing her dad.

“She doesn’t understand right now, but I’ll make sure that she knows who her father was, and that even though he’s not here physically, she could still have that relationship with him spiritually,” Johnson said.

Barkley was working as a food delivery driver the night he was shot. While he was delivering food, another person in the car was selling drugs, prosecutors said.

At the end of the night, Barkley and his friend went to Southside Homes to arrange a weed sale.

What Barkley didn’t know, is that the man inside the car with him had planning to rob someone with Butler.

When Butler saw them pull up. He got inside the car to buy weed. When inside, he saw Barkley’s gun and worried he was being setup.

“Abijah, who had a gun that day, was clenching and clutching his gun and (Butler) said Abijah ends up grabbing his gun in a way that made him, the defendant feel like he was going to be robbed,” said Nikki Robinson, assistant district attorney.

Butler will be in prison for as little as just about a year. Barkley’s family feels robbed of justice.

“For them not to charge him with murder, like I said, it’s just very heartbreaking, very distasteful,” Johnson said. “It’s very disturbing, and I really feel like the justice system let us down this time.”

Family members said Barkley carried the gun for protection while he delivered food.

Prosecutors said the other man in the car confirmed Butler’s story about the way Barkley was holding a gun and that Butler perceived imminent harm.

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