Brett Thomas Butler, a 33-year-old male from Matthews, NC, tragically lost his life on March 18, 2020. The incident occurred near the intersection of Matthews Township Parkway and Sam Newell Road. Butler was driving when he was shot around 6 p.m. His vehicle subsequently crashed into another car before striking a building. He was transported to Atrium Health's Carolina Medical Center in Charlotte, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation revealed that the incident stemmed
from an earlier roadway dispute on Highway 74 between Butler and the suspect. The suspect, described as a Hispanic male approximately 5'06" – 5'08" tall, was last seen driving a black 2007 Acura TSX with a North Carolina registration plate number of PMX-5683. The Matthews Police Department worked tirelessly to identify, locate, and apprehend the person responsible. The suspect was ultimately identified as a 17-year-old male. Due to his status as a juvenile, his name has not been released.
On April 1, 2020, the suspect was taken into custody in Stallings, NC, under a Juvenile Secure Custody Order for the charge of murder. Additionally, Ricardo Hernandez Sandoval, an 18-year-old male from Monroe, NC, was charged with Accessory After the Fact of a Felony and was taken into custody by deputies from the Union County Sheriff's Office. Sandoval is currently held in the Mecklenburg County Jail.
The Matthews Police Department expressed gratitude to the CMPD, the FBI Violent Criminal Task Force, Stallings Police Department, Monroe Police Department, and the Union County Sheriff's Office for their assistance and continued partnership in this case. The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Danielle Helms at [email protected] or 704-841-6706.
