The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has arrested 25-year-old Datonio Stephens in connection with the drive-by shooting that killed 3-year-old Asiah Figeuroa in September 2021. This arrest adds to the ongoing investigation involving multiple attempted murders over the past three years.
QC News reported that the arrest went down last Friday, when the CMPD’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team joined forces with the FBI-Charlotte, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the Robeson County Sheriff's Office to apprehend Stephens. Now facing a slew of charges, including murder, attempted murder, shooting into an occupied dwelling, and conspiracy to commit murder, Stephens is the latest to join a list of individuals held responsible for the incident.
During the incident on Richard Rozzelle Drive, over 150 rounds were fired into the home where Asiah Figueroa was sleeping, resulting in his death. The shooting was one of several incidents linked to conflicts involving local high school students. In response, former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Earnest Winston called for peace among students shortly after Asiah’s death, according to WSOC-TV.
Three arrests had been made prior to Stephens, with suspects Jacob Lanier, Kaleb Lawrence, and Qua’tonio Stephens having been taken into custody soon after the drive-by. While Lawrence turned himself in, Lanier and Qua’tonio Stephens were apprehended, with Lanier sharing charges similar to those now faced by Datonio Stephens. As of January, the CMPD was still on the lookout for another suspect, Bryce Felder, who remains at large and is wanted for murder. Though further details on Felder's arrest have not yet surfaced, the collective effort to hold those accountable continues. WCNC detailed the progression of arrests and the charges that each suspect faced.
