A 49-year-old Charlotte man has been sentenced to a substantial 34-year term in prison for the armed robbery and shooting at his former workplace, the Fish House North arcade.
Robert Lee Barringer, the convicted individual, also formerly employed by the establishment, faced federal prosecutors and was handed a sentence of 412 months in prison. This will be succeeded by a five-year stretch of supervised release. The armed robbery, which significantly turned violent, occurred on North Tryon Street back in July of 2021, an event that did not just merely end in monetary theft, but also in grievous bodily harm to three individuals.
As detailed by WCNC, Barringer's method of operation involved concealing his face and forcing his way into the business, which culminated in shooting three victims. These individuals, as mentioned in a report by QC News, included an employee, his wife, and a security guard. The severity of their injuries was profound, staking claim to the violence that unfolded.
Following the shooting, Barringer coerced one victim to hand over register keys and compelled another to access it. His escape with $3,500 was fleeting as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police arrested him two days later at a local hotel. Law enforcement was able to shortly thereafter connect the dots of the carnage back to Barringer, identifying him as a disgruntled ex-employee who had been let go just a month before the ordeal.
Barringer's criminal history is extensive, with both federal and state convictions that include assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His recent charges included interference with commerce by robbery, and use, carry, and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. These findings, obtained from court records referenced by WCCB Charlotte, illustrate a troubled trajectory culminating in the incident at Fish House North.
