Damontae Austin, an 18-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on July 26, 2021, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Avalon Avenue. Civilians transported Damontae to a local hospital by personal vehicle, but he was pronounced deceased upon arrival.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has been investigating the case since the incident.
Despite their efforts, no arrests have been made, and the case remains unsolved. Damontae's family, including his mother Antoinette Austin and his grandmother Claudette Allen, have been vocal about their grief and their desire for justice.
The investigation has been challenging for the CMPD, as they have been unable to identify a suspect or gather sufficient evidence to make an arrest. The case has been reevaluated multiple times over the past three years, with investigators looking into any changes in technology or new evidence that could help solve the case.
In addition to the tragedy of Damontae's death, his family faced another devastating loss just two months earlier. Damontae's step-sister, four-year-old Majelic Young, was found buried in a shallow grave. Her mother, Malikah Bennett, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the girl's death. Despite the proximity of these two tragic events, investigators do not believe the cases are related.
Damontae's family continues to seek justice and closure for his untimely death. They hope that anyone with information about the incident will come forward and help bring the perpetrator to justice.
