A 66-year-old driver is now facing criminal charges in connection with a June crash in east Charlotte that left a 17-year-old dead, according to police. Roderick Gresham has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, speeding and reckless driving after warrants were issued and he turned himself in earlier this month. The victim was identified as 17-year-old Angelina Naomi Chicas, who was taken to the hospital after a June 6 collision and later pronounced dead. Investigators say the case remains active while toxicology results are still pending.
In an update posted by CMPD News, the department said arrest warrants for Gresham were obtained on July 9 and that he surrendered to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office on July 11. The post lists charges of involuntary manslaughter, speeding and reckless driving and notes the associated crash report number. Detectives with CMPD’s Major Crash Unit are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the collision.
According to an earlier news release from the Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Department, officers responded to a crash in the 4300 block of N. Sharon Amity Road on June 6. They found a Honda Civic with an unresponsive driver, later identified as Chicas. MEDIC took her to the hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. A Chrysler 300 and its driver were also at the scene. At that time, investigators said they did not yet know whether speed or impairment played a role for the Chrysler driver and that toxicology testing was pending.
Chicas’ coworkers at Manolo’s Bakery told WSOC‑TV she was a recent hire who “brightened everyone’s day,” and the shop has been helping her family through a GoFundMe for funeral expenses. Owner Manolo Betancur said, “She was always asking us, ‘Help me, teach me,’” and described how staff gathered to pray after learning she had died. Community members have posted condolences and contributed donations for the family in the days following the crash.
Charges and next steps
According to the department’s update on CMPD News, Gresham is now charged and is expected to face prosecution in Mecklenburg County. The listed charges are allegations, and the legal process will determine the outcome. The case reference number is 20260606-2115-01.
Police are asking anyone who may have seen the collision or has relevant information to contact Detective Sessoms at 704-432-2169 ext. 3 or to leave an anonymous tip with Charlotte Crime Stoppers, according to the CMPD. The department’s public affairs office has said additional information will be released as the investigation develops.
What remains unclear
Investigators say they are still working to piece together the sequence of events that led up to the crash and whether impairment or unlawful speed factored into the collision. Toxicology and other forensic testing must be completed before authorities can make final determinations about what happened. CMPD has reiterated that the investigation is active and again urged anyone with information to contact detectives.
Meanwhile, family members, friends and neighbors continue to mourn Chicas’ death as the case moves forward through investigative and legal channels. We will update this story as new public information becomes available from CMPD and other local authorities.
