Ryan Devon Autry, a 29-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on March 29, 2021, in a parking lot on West Sugar Creek Road in Charlotte, North Carolina. The incident occurred in the late evening when officers responded to a 911 call reporting an assault with a deadly weapon. Upon arrival, they found Ryan with apparent gunshot wounds, and he was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
The location of the shooting was a shopping center parking lot where a Food Lion was situated.
Following the incident, Darius Chambers, a 31-year-old African American male, was arrested on April 1, 2021, and charged with murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Darius had a criminal history, including a previous conviction for robbing a pizza delivery driver in 2012 and drug-related charges in 2015. The arrest was made after Cabarrus County Sheriff's Deputies encountered Darius during a traffic stop, during which he allegedly agreed to speak with police detectives in Charlotte.
Despite the initial charges, all charges against Darius Chambers were dismissed without leave by the district attorney in September 2022. The dismissal of charges was not accompanied by a plea agreement, and it remains unclear why the prosecutors decided to drop the case. It is speculated that the lack of evidence may have played a role in the decision. As a result, Darius was released from jail and walked away free.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department continues to investigate the case, and no additional suspect information has been made available. The investigation remains active and ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information to contact the CMPD or Crime Stoppers to leave an anonymous tip.
