CHARLOTTE SHOOTINGS
Police: Weekend shootings lead to 2 dead in N. Carolina city
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Police in North Carolina’s largest city say a pair of weekend shootings in North Carolina’s largest city has led to two men dead and two other people injured. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Sunday a suspect has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in connection to one of the deaths. Both shooting incidents happened late Saturday night. Police were still investigating one shooting that sent three people to the hospital. One of them died. That person is identified as Elante’ Nasir Thompson. The other shooting led to the death of Malik Fidel Whitney. Police made an arrest in that case.
ASHEVILLE SHOOTINGS
Police: 1 dead, another critically wounded in NC shooting
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Police in Asheville say one person died and another was critically injured in a double shooting. Police officers responded in the early-morning hours Sunday to a report of gunshot wounds in east Asheville. Two people shot multiple times were taken to the hospital. A police news release says Carle Lee Ellington Jr. died, while the other person shot — Staekwon Tyjai Taylor — was in critical condition. Detectives were investigating what happened, and asked the public for help to provide information.
OBIT-CHESLIE KRYST
Cheslie Kryst, former Miss USA, dies at 30
NEW YORK (AP) — Cheslie Kryst, the 2019 winner of the Miss USA pageant and a correspondent for the entertainment news program “Extra,” has died. Police said the 30-year-old Kryst jumped from a Manhattan apartment building. She was pronounced dead at the scene Sunday morning. Her family confirmed her death in a statement. They said she “embodied love and served others.” Kryst was a former Division I athlete and North Carolina attorney. She was crowned Miss USA in May, 2019. Kryst’s win marked the first time three Black women were the reigning Miss USA, Miss Teen USA and Miss America.
KENNEL-DOGS SEIZED
Dogs seized from NC kennel, owner faces welfare violations
MOYOCK, N.C. (AP) — The owner of a northeastern North Carolina kennel has been accused of dozens of animal welfare violations after authorities seized over 60 dogs from what were called “inhumane” living conditions. Currituck County officials took away the adult dogs and puppies after responding Friday to a report of stray dogs running lose on a road. Animal control officers who arrived discovered a number of dogs in outdoor kennels that “were extremely unsanitary.” One dog had died and some needed immediately medical care. The kennel’s owner didn’t immediately respond Sunday to a phone message seeking comment. Dogs were taken to a local animal shelter.
WINTER WEATHER-NORTH CAROLINA
Significant snowfall recorded in western NC mountains
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Several inches of snow fell in the North Carolina mountains before the latest winter storm left the state. National Weather Service data shows areas to the north and west of Asheville having the highest accumulations. Yancey County saw up to 10 inches of snow by Saturday morning. Other sections of the state that received snowfall Friday night and Saturday that was more than a dusting included areas south of Greensboro. The state Department of Transportation says crews and contractors put salt and sand on roads, but warned of icy conditions Saturday night and early Sunday due to high winds and falling temperatures.
FATAL FIRE
Officials: 1 dead in central North Carolina house fire
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say a person found inside a central North Carolina home that caught on fire has died. News outlets report the Concord Fire Department received a call early Saturday and arrived at the house to find fire and smoke coming from the front and back doors. Firefighters say a neighbor had tried unsuccessfully to rescue the home’s occupant. Crews who first arrived to the scene removed the victim, who later died. The victim’s name was not immediately released. The fire department is investigating the cause of the blaze, which caused $20,000 in property damage.
ALE INVESTIGATION-ARRESTS
Undercover operation in NC county yields 30-plus arrests
WHITEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Alcohol Law Enforcement agency says over 30 people have been arrested on more than 200 counts related to an investigation into illegal drug, alcohol and firearms sales in Columbus County. ALE says the undercover operation reached a climax Friday when law enforcement officials attempted to serve warrants. Agents seized drugs such as fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as guns and alcoholic beverages. Some suspects still remain at large. Alleged illegal activity at businesses with licenses to serve alcohol could subject the establishments to fines or the suspension or revocation of Alcohol Beverage Control permits.
AMAZON WORKER-MAIL FRAUD
Amazon worker pleads guilty in stolen merchandise scheme
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say an operations manager at an Amazon warehouse in North Carolina has admitted to a scheme in which he stole, then sold merchandise worth more than a quarter of a million dollars. U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Dena King says Douglas Wright Jr. of Charlotte pleaded guilty to mail fraud on Friday. According to plea documents and the hearing, Wright stole merchandise worth more than $273,000 from the company’s Charlotte warehouse, where was an operations manager. Court records show that Wright targeted certain merchandise and shipped it to his home. Wright admitted in court that he then sold the stolen merchandise to a wholesale company in California.
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