Gerardo Arellano-Sanchez, a 33-year-old Hispanic male, was tragically killed in a double homicide on July 14, 2019, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The incident occurred at an apartment complex on Electra Lane, where shots were fired, resulting in the deaths of Gerardo Arellano-Sanchez and Miguel Angel Molina Cruz, a 31-year-old Hispanic male. A third male victim was also found with gunshot wounds and was transported to Atrium Health Carolina’s Medical Center with serious injuries.
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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department responded to the scene just before 1 a.m. and discovered the three men with gunshot wounds outside one of the apartment buildings. Gerardo Arellano-Sanchez and Miguel Angel Molina Cruz were pronounced dead at the scene. The area, typically a quiet neighborhood, was shaken by the violent incident.
Following an investigation, Nico Benn, a 24-year-old male, was identified as the suspect in the case. On October 3, 2019, Benn was arrested and charged with two counts of murder, assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Benn was taken into custody without incident and is being held in the Mecklenburg County Jail without bond.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and the investigation is ongoing. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has urged anyone with further information about the incident to come forward and assist with the investigation. The tragic deaths of Gerardo Arellano-Sanchez and Miguel Angel Molina Cruz have left a lasting impact on their families and the community.
