Kendal Ryan Crank, a 27-year-old African American woman, tragically lost her life on March 28, 2019, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kendal was driving her vehicle with her two children inside when she was inadvertently caught in the crossfire of a shootout between three men on East 28th Street. The suspects involved in the shootout were Tychicus Dobie, 22, Adonis Smith, 17, and Marquis Smith, 24. Kendal was not the intended target of the shooting.
Upon being struck by a stray bullet, Kendal's vehicle crashed, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspects in the case, Tychicus Dobie, Adonis Smith, and Marquis Smith, were charged with murder and shooting into a vehicle. The incident occurred around 5:17 p.m., and multiple 911 calls were placed reporting the shooting. The suspects fled the scene before police arrived. Later, a male victim with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his arm walked into CMC-Main Hospital, likely struck by gunfire during the incident.
Kendal Crank was a mother of two, a 3-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl. She was on her way to a nursing class at Central Piedmont Community College when the tragic event occurred. Kendal's family described her as a loving and dedicated mother who was working hard to provide for her children. A small memorial was set up at the scene of the shooting to honor her memory.
The suspects, Tychicus Dobie, Adonis Smith, and Marquis Smith, appeared in court and entered not-guilty pleas. The case garnered significant attention, and the community mourned the loss of an innocent mother caught in a senseless act of violence. The investigation into the incident revealed that the shootout was a result of a dispute between the suspects, with no regard for the safety of bystanders.
