Shabazz Grant, Justin Carlton Obituary, Death News – Authorities in Charlotte have confirmed that a second person has passed away following a series of violent incidents that took place last week and ended with police confronting and fatally stopping an armed suspect. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) announced on Sunday that 34-year-old Shabazz Mesiah Grant died at a local hospital as a result of injuries sustained during the Thursday afternoon events.
According to police, the situation began unfolding around 4 p.m. Thursday when officers were called to the area of North Hoskins Road near Brookshire Boulevard in northwest Charlotte after receiving multiple reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, officers found two individuals—Grant and 38-year-old Justin Westbrooks Carlton—who had both sustained serious injuries. Carlton was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later passed away the same day.
While investigators were still processing the first scene, reports came in of another related crime nearby—a home invasion and kidnapping. The suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Joseph Andrade, allegedly forced a woman into a vehicle and fled the area.
Police Chief Johnny Jennings said officers quickly located the suspect’s vehicle and attempted to stop it, but Andrade refused to pull over, leading to a high-speed pursuit through several parts of Charlotte. During the chase, the suspect reportedly fired at police, striking several patrol cars but not injuring any officers.
The pursuit came to an end when the suspect’s vehicle crashed near the intersection of Freedom Drive and Morehead Street. After the collision, Andrade reportedly got out of the car and continued to fire at pursuing officers. Law enforcement personnel returned fire, and Andrade was fatally struck during the exchange. A firearm believed to belong to the suspect was recovered at the scene.
The kidnapped woman managed to escape after the crash and was located by officers shortly afterward. Police confirmed that she was physically unharmed and is now safe. She has been cooperating with investigators as they work to understand the sequence of events.
Chief Jennings noted that no officers were physically injured, though four were taken to a hospital as a precaution for evaluation and later released. They are receiving peer and mental health support. Several of those officers were still in training at the time of the incident, according to Jennings.
Authorities have since determined that Andrade was the sole suspect responsible for both the shooting on North Hoskins Road and the subsequent kidnapping and police pursuit. Investigators are still working to determine what motivated the crimes and whether the home invasion was a random act or if there was a prior connection between the suspect and the victims. At this stage, there is no indication that Andrade personally knew either of the two shooting victims.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is handling the review of the officer-involved shooting, as is standard procedure in such cases. Meanwhile, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department continues to investigate the homicide and assault aspects of the case.
Police are asking anyone with information that might assist in the investigation to contact the CMPD Homicide Unit at 704-432-8477 and request to speak with Detective Moore, who is leading the case. Anonymous tips can also be provided through Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
Chief Jennings expressed gratitude for the quick response and professionalism of the officers involved, noting that the events were both dangerous and emotionally challenging. He also offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and reaffirmed the department’s commitment to ensuring a thorough investigation.
The Charlotte community continues to process the events, which unfolded rapidly and involved multiple crime scenes. Local officials have encouraged residents to remain patient as investigators work to gather all relevant evidence and provide clarity about what led to the tragic series of events.
