William Darrell Perry, a 26-year-old African American male, was found shot to death in northwest Charlotte, North Carolina, on March 22, 2021. The incident occurred around 12:50 p.m. near the 4900 block of Tuckaseegee Road. Upon arrival, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers discovered Perry with an apparent gunshot wound inside a vehicle.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by Medic.
The investigation into Perry's death revealed that multiple witnesses had provided information suggesting that the suspect might be hiding in a nearby home. CMPD's Special Weapons and Tactics Team conducted an extensive search but did not find the suspect, and the area was declared safe. The investigation remained active and ongoing, with no immediate arrests or identified motives.
On April 2, 2021, CMPD announced the arrest of two individuals in connection with Perry's murder. Diastarrquacious McKnight and Zytwan Paschal, both 21 years old at the time, were taken into custody without incident. Paschal was charged with murder, while McKnight faced charges of accessory after the fact. Paschal later pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 6 1/2 to 9 years in prison. McKnight received a sentence of 36 months of probation and 50 hours of community service.
The case highlighted the collaborative efforts of various departments, including SWAT, the District Attorney's office, Victim Services, Charlotte Fire Department, and Operations Command, in responding to the scene and conducting the investigation. Despite the arrests and subsequent legal proceedings, the investigation into Perry's death continued, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward.
