Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has reported the arrest of a second teenager in connection with the October 26th murder of Zackary Evan Rieken. Smajie A’Nee Johnson, 18, was taken into custody on November 1st and faces charges of murder and shooting into occupied property, as documented by WBTV. These developments follow the earlier apprehension of a 17-year-old suspect who remains unnamed due to their juvenile status, and who has been given identical charges in relation to this case.
The tragic incident, which managed to clearly record on a neighborhood doorbell camera, shows a vehicle, operated by Rieken, being fired upon. After being struck by gunfire, Rieken is seen driving and subsequently crashing his car while the shooter and accomplices are observed fleeing the scene. In a statement obtained by WCNC, a local resident, Welma Lolin, expressed her despair over the violence, remarking, "That sad part is that a young man lost his life." Lolin, who has a 19-year-old child, relayed her intention for moving to the area—to provide a safe haven for her children.
On the night of the incident, officers responded to a 911 call and discovered Rieken in his vehicle with a fatal gunshot wound along James Blakeney Avenue. The case has caught the attention of the community with its brazen public violence, spurring a swift law enforcement response. Both Johnson and the 17-year-old suspect are currently in custody, and the investigation continues to actively unfold. Anyone with information regarding this shooting is encouraged to contact authorities as reported by WCCB Charlotte.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is urging members of the public to step forward and assist in bringing further details to light. Witnesses or individuals with applicable information are to directly call 704-432-TIPS to speak with a Homicide Unit detective, or, if preferring to remain anonymous, they may call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or go online.
