Karen Baker, a 48-year-old woman from Charlotte, NC, was tragically killed on July 13, 2022, during a robbery at an ATM on University City Blvd. Karen, who was on her way to work, pulled up to the ATM to withdraw cash at around 6 a.m. when she was approached by J’wuan Horton, a 24-year-old man dressed in black and wearing a mask. Horton robbed Karen and then shot her, taking her cash before fleeing the scene.
Karen died on site.
J’wuan Horton was arrested three months later and charged with murder and robbery. At his court appearance in 2024, Horton pled guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon. He was sentenced to a minimum of 317 months and a maximum of 393 months in prison. Before the ATM robbery, Horton had been released from prison just five months prior, having served time for another armed robbery and breaking and entering.
Karen Baker's death was a random act of violence that left her family and community in shock. Her family sought justice for her murder, and Horton's guilty plea and subsequent sentencing provided some measure of closure. The case highlighted the dangers of violent crime and the impact it has on victims and their loved ones.
