A late-morning confrontation outside a north Charlotte strip mall left a 35-year-old woman in the hospital with serious injuries and another woman in handcuffs, according to police documents.
The stabbing was reported around 10:30 a.m. yesterday near Old Sugar Creek Road and West W.T. Harris Boulevard. Court papers say the victim was attacked with a pair of scissors and rushed to a hospital with serious injuries.
Authorities arrested a 50-year-old woman in connection with the assault. The suspect is identified in court records as Teressa Hope Ford, who is charged with assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury, according to the documents.
Records reviewed by WBTV say a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police report and an arrest warrant place the scene at a small shopping center that shares a parking lot with a KFC and includes a restaurant and a smoke shop. The warrant states the victim was stabbed with scissors and shows Ford was booked into the Mecklenburg County jail. Jail records list a court appearance set for Wednesday, according to the outlet.
WBTV reported that a booking photo tied to the warrant was released and that detectives were still gathering witness statements as the investigation moved forward.
"It was not clear what led up to Tuesday’s reported stabbing," the station noted. Police have not said whether the suspect and victim knew each other, and investigators have not publicly discussed a possible motive, according to the documents. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from the strip mall parking area as part of the ongoing probe.
Local context
The attack lands in the middle of a rough stretch for Charlotte when it comes to stabbings in public places. This spring has already seen a late-night incident on West Tyvola Road and a deadly blade attack along the light rail that rattled regular riders.
For background on that pattern, see Hoodline’s coverage of the late-night Tyvola Road stabbing and the earlier Blue Line blade killing. Those cases have already fueled calls for more police presence, better cameras and stepped-up outreach in corridors where people say they no longer feel fully safe just walking or riding through.
What the charge means
Ford is facing a felony count described in the arrest paperwork as "assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury." Under North Carolina law, an assault with a deadly weapon that inflicts serious injury is classified as a Class E felony, and in more severe situations can rise to a Class C felony when there is intent to kill, per the North Carolina General Statutes.
Her case will move through Mecklenburg County court, and if prosecutors secure a conviction on the charged offense, the statute allows for a prison sentence that can run multiple years, depending on prior record and how the court applies the state’s sentencing guidelines.
How to help investigators
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are asking anyone who was in the area Tuesday morning, or who may have seen or recorded anything from the strip mall parking lot, to come forward.
Tips can be shared directly with CMPD by calling the department’s tip line at 704-432-TIPS (704-432-8477). Anonymous tips can be left with Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600, according to department guidance.
For ongoing updates from law enforcement, visit the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department website. To submit anonymous information online, go to Charlotte Crime Stoppers. This story will be updated if authorities release additional records or formal statements.
