A 21-year-old has been charged in a deadly shooting that rattled a northwest Charlotte neighborhood, capping what police describe as a months-long homicide investigation into a Jan. 5 killing on Carol Avenue.
Authorities say Taylen Germon Barbour was taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Kishmere Wright in the 3000 block of Carol Avenue. Neighbors watched in disbelief the night first responders arrived and found Wright suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, detectives with the department’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team located Barbour and arrested him on Jan. 27. CMPD says he was taken to the Law Enforcement Center for an interview and later transferred into Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s custody, where he is charged with murder.
As reported by WBTV, local coverage indicates Barbour faces not only a murder charge, but also a count of possession of a firearm by a felon. WBTV noted that officers were called to the 3000 block of Carol Avenue around 7 p.m. on Jan. 5 after reports of an assault with a deadly weapon, and that MEDIC later pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
Hoodline first covered the case in early January with a report on the fatal shooting on Carol Avenue. CMPD has identified the victim as Wright, age 24, and listed the investigation under case number 20260105-1904-00.
How Police Say The Arrest Came Together
Per the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, homicide detectives developed Barbour as a suspect during their ongoing investigation, then obtained a warrant for his arrest. Members of the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team located him on Jan. 27 and took him into custody. CMPD says the investigation is still active as detectives continue to chase down leads and interview witnesses.
Charges And Legal Exposure
Barbour is charged with murder, and local reporting has said he also faces a firearms-possession count tied to being a convicted felon. North Carolina law bars felons from possessing firearms, and the offense is itself a felony under state law, according to the North Carolina General Assembly.
Anyone with information about the case can contact CMPD's Homicide Unit at 704-432-8477 (TIPS) or leave an anonymous tip with Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
The investigation remains ongoing, and prosecutors will ultimately decide what formal charges to pursue as the case moves through court. Hoodline will continue to track public records and official releases for updates on new filings, court dates or any statements from county attorneys.
