Gunfire rattled an east Charlotte neighborhood Monday when officers heard a quick burst of shots near the Old Concord Road light rail station, and police say the man who pulled the trigger was arrested just a short walk away on the platform.
According to court documents, officers were in the 5600 block of Old Concord Road when they heard what sounded like seven or eight shots. Authorities later detained La’meak Wingo at the Old Concord Road station, where investigators say he admitted firing the rounds.
Police say Wingo also had small amounts of marijuana that appeared to be repackaged in store-bought smoke-shop bags. The department charged him under city ordinances and released him on an unsecured bond, according to the records.
WSOC TV reports that Charlotte-Mecklenburg officers used witness descriptions to help track down a suspect at the light rail station soon after the gunfire. Court documents reviewed by the station say Wingo admitted to firing the shots and that officers recovered the packaged marijuana from him.
The station reports Wingo was cited for two municipal ordinance violations under the city code: shooting within city limits and possession of a weapon on city property. He was released on an unsecured bond.
The arrest lands at an awkward moment for Charlotte’s transit system, which remains under a microscope after last year’s fatal light rail stabbing and a Federal Transit Administration audit that flagged safety problems inside Charlotte Area Transit System, or CATS, WFAE reported.
In January, federal transit leaders toured the Blue Line to review upgrades and security changes. City and CATS officials told them they had increased security staffing and stepped up fare enforcement around the system, WBTV reported.
How police say the arrest unfolded
Police told investigators they were drawn to the 5600 block of Old Concord Road after witnesses reported hearing seven or eight shots, and officers on scene heard the same rapid volley, according to WSOC TV. Using a suspect description from witnesses, officers found a person who matched it standing on the Old Concord Road station platform.
Court documents cited by the station say that person was identified as Wingo, who admitted to firing the shots. Officers seized the marijuana that had been repackaged in smoke-shop style bags, the report states.
The station’s reporting notes that Wingo’s current charges are municipal ordinance violations rather than felony indictments at this stage. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police did not immediately release information about any injuries or additional suspects connected to the gunfire.
Transit safety and next steps
The gunfire near the station comes as federal regulators press Charlotte to tighten its transit safety protocols. The Federal Transit Administration has ordered CATS to submit a corrective action plan after identifying several compliance gaps in the agency’s safety program, WFAE reported.
During the January tour of the Blue Line, city and transit leaders told federal officials they are adding nearly 30 security personnel, expanding platform patrols and intensifying fare enforcement as part of that response, according to WBTV.
Anyone with information about the Old Concord Road shooting is asked to contact Charlotte-Mecklenburg police or Crime Stoppers. The department’s website lists the non-emergency number and options for submitting anonymous tips. For general reporting details and contact information, visit the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
