Khali Amir Holmes, a 24-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on January 13, 2019, at the Carolina Place Mall in Pineville, North Carolina. The incident occurred inside the DTLR store, where Holmes was involved in a physical confrontation with an employee of the store. According to Pineville police, the dispute between Holmes and the employee escalated, leading the employee to pull out a semi-automatic handgun and shoot Holmes.
Holmes was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
The shooter, an employee of DTLR, turned himself in to the authorities shortly after the incident. The police have not released the name of the employee, and no criminal charges have been filed at this time. The investigation is ongoing, with the Pineville Police Department working closely with the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office to review video footage and interview witnesses. The police believe that the shooting was not a random act, but rather the result of an ongoing dispute between Holmes and the employee.
In addition to the investigation into the shooting, it was revealed that Khali Amir Holmes had a criminal history. In 2017, Holmes was charged with statutory rape of a child and four counts of statutory offense with a child by an adult offender in Iredell County. It is unclear if there is any connection between these charges and the incident at the mall.
The shooting has raised concerns among shoppers and the community about the presence of guns in the mall. Some have suggested the installation of metal detectors at mall entrances to enhance security and prevent similar incidents in the future. The mall remained open for business following the shooting, with increased security measures in place. The Pineville Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the events that led to the tragic death of Khali Amir Holmes.
