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Published on January 13, 2025
Pineville Man Fatally Shot by Police at Tavern 51 as SBI Conducts InvestigationSource: Google Street View

A 24-year-old man, Colton Floren, was fatally shot by a Pineville police officer in the parking lot of Tavern 51, a bar located off Pineville-Matthews Road near I-485, on Saturday afternoon. WBTV reported that the Pineville Police Department was responding to a 911 call about a man who allegedly brandished a handgun and made threats at the bar.

When the police arrived, Floren was pointed out by someone at the scene. An officer purportedly issued 13 verbal commands to Floren, who, according to police, did not comply with their instructions. A "sudden gesture" led the officer to perceive an imminent threat, resulting in him discharging his firearm. WCCB Charlotte mentioned that Floren was transported to Atrium Main where he later died from his injuries. The Pineville officer involved was not injured during the incident.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is conducting a criminal investigation into the shooting. Additionally, Pineville Police is carrying out an internal affairs inquiry. As per information obtained by WSOCTV, surveillance footage prior to the arrival of the police showed Floren in a cream-colored sweater holding what appeared to be a gun. Law enforcement confronted Floren in the parking lot where the fatal encounter took place.

This incident marks the second police shooting in Pineville within the past year, and it occurs amid a recent upsurge in officer-involved shootings in the Charlotte area. In an interview with WSOCTV, David Brown, a customer who witnessed the shooting, expressed his shock, saying, "It’s just shocking, I’m actually scared. As far as the officer and everybody involved, I hope their ok. It’s just a sad thing." The officers involved have been placed on administrative assignment as the investigations continue.