MONROE, N.C. — Union County Sheriff’s Office detectives said they arrested a sixth suspect last week connected to a series of gang-related shootings in March in the Wingate and Monroe areas.
The 16-year-old suspect, from Mecklenburg County, was taken into custody and charged with two counts of attempted murder and several additional charges.
The charges stemmed from a drive-by shooting on Morning Glory Drive.
The teen was already under the supervision of the Mecklenburg County Juvenile Justice due to previous offenses, according to the Union County Sheriff’s Office.
“Our office identified the suspect, or the sixth suspect in this case, and they needed help trying to identify where he was,” said Union County Lieutenant James Maye. “The safest way possible would have been to have the Mecklenburg County Department of Juvenile Justice assist us in bringing this juvenile into an office setting, a controlled environment.”
Detectives in Union County said that “despite the violent and brazen nature of these crimes, Mecklenburg County DJJ refused to assist UCSO detectives in locating, contacting, and/or apprehending this dangerous offender.”
“They said that they just weren’t going to help us with our investigation; as far as their reason, they didn’t spell out why,” Maye elaborated.
Channel 9 reached out to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, which oversees the Division of Juvenile Justice. While they didn’t respond to the comments made by the Union County Sheriff’s Office, they did release a statement saying:
“The confidentiality of juvenile matters per state law curtails them from providing information about a juvenile or the charges against them.”
They also said they are committed to continuing to work closely with law enforcement to address public safety concerns.
That 16-year-old suspect was eventually located at his home and taken into custody. However, his identity can’t be released because of his age.
He was transported to a local juvenile detention facility, where he is currently being held.
Three adults and two more teens were also charged in the drive-by.
Yair Avalos was charged with felony discharging a weapon into occupied property. Oscar Gonzalez-Capote was charged with felony attempted murder and felony conspiracy. Altagracia Juarez-Melchor was charged with felony attempted murder, felony discharging a weapon into occupied property, and felony conspiracy.
The two juveniles have been charged with felony discharging a weapon into occupied property.
The investigation is ongoing.
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