Gunshots rang out near an industrial corridor in North Charlotte on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a police pursuit that continued into Spartanburg County, South Carolina, where the vehicle crashed and a suspect was apprehended, according to WSOC-TV. The pursuit, captured on camera, unfolded after the shooting near Atando Avenue and Graham Street.
Witnesses reported hearing gunfire near the intersection at about 3:30 p.m., according to WSOC-TV. Brenda Williams, who was nearby when the shots erupted, described the fear that gripped the area in the moment. Williams said she thought officers were going to start shooting.
Graham Street Shut Down as CMPD Investigates
Graham Street was shut down about an hour after the gunfire was reported. Atando Business Park is at 1431 Ameron Drive, according to Beacon Partners.
The fleeing truck's route took officers out of Charlotte, with cameras capturing the chase toward Spartanburg County, South Carolina, where the vehicle crashed, as reported by WYFF News 4.
Why CMPD Could Chase in the First Place
The gunfire reported near Atando Avenue was followed by a pursuit as the truck fled the scene.
Under North Carolina General Statutes § 20-145, officers operating emergency vehicles in a chase or apprehension of suspected law violators are exempt from posted speed limits, provided they still drive with due regard for public safety, according to a policy document published by the Town of River Bend, NC.
A Familiar Pattern on Charlotte's Highways
Wednesday's chase follows a January WCNC report about a high-speed chase and arrest, according to WCNC. WCNC's report also concerned an arrest.
National researchers have flagged those risks as a persistent concern. A 2023 report from the Police Executive Research Forum discusses the risks of high-speed police pursuits and urges agencies to enforce strict pursuit thresholds paired with continuous supervisory evaluation, according to the Police Executive Research Forum.
Chase Comes Amid Falling Crime Numbers
CMPD has held a public-safety briefing in Charlotte, but the briefing is not identified as connected to this pursuit. The provided reports do not identify a CMPD public-safety update about the incident.
As of Wednesday evening, WSOC-TV described the incident as a developing story, with CMPD continuing to investigate what happened on Graham Street. WSOC reported that 18-year-old Zyvarius Webber was apprehended after crashing the vehicle and attempting to flee on foot, and remained in custody in South Carolina pending extradition to North Carolina, as noted by WSOC-TV.
