Andres Osvaldo Moscotte, a 23-year-old Hispanic male, tragically passed away on January 23, 2020, in Hickory, North Carolina. Born on August 7, 1996, in Los Angeles, California, he was the son of Luis and Nora Marinero Moscotte. Andres was found deceased in the yard of his residence, having suffered a fatal gunshot wound. The incident occurred shortly after 8 p.m.
when Hickory Police Officers responded to a 911 call from a female, identified as Moscotte's girlfriend, who reported that a man at the residence had been shot and was not breathing. Upon arrival, officers discovered Moscotte lying in the yard, unresponsive.
The investigation revealed that Moscotte had exited the residence and engaged in a conversation with a stocky black male wearing dark clothing and a dark-colored mask covering his mouth and nose. Moscotte's girlfriend, who witnessed the interaction, heard what sounded like an altercation outside and subsequently locked herself in a bedroom. She then heard at least two people enter the residence. After the individuals left, she found Moscotte lying in the front yard and discovered that his 2006 Black Mercedes Benz ML350 was missing from the driveway. The vehicle was later found unoccupied as a result of a single-car accident in the 1000 block of D Avenue SE.
The suspects involved in the incident were familiar with Moscotte and targeted him for a robbery. Jalen Jakee Witherspoon, a 22-year-old black male, turned himself in to the police on January 26, 2020. Witherspoon was initially charged with first-degree murder but later pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to second-degree murder, first-degree burglary, and common-law robbery. He was sentenced to a minimum of 120 months and a maximum of 179 months in prison. Another suspect, 30-year-old Steven Staples, was arrested in Charlotte by U.S. Marshals and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Moscotte's death. Staples also faced charges related to a double homicide in Charlotte earlier that year.
In October 2022, Stephen Razelle Staples pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Moscotte's death and received a prison sentence of 28 to 34 years. The investigation concluded that the suspects were familiar with Moscotte and had targeted him for a robbery, leading to the tragic events of January 23, 2020. The case highlights the devastating impact of violence and the importance of thorough investigations to bring justice to the victims and their families.
