Churchill Randolph Zoker, a 32-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on June 30, 2018, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was shot and killed at the Extended Stay hotel located on East McCullough Drive. The incident occurred when patrol officers responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call at the motel. Zoker was transported to Carolinas Medical Center with life-threatening injuries from being shot and was pronounced deceased a short time later by medical staff.
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investigation into Zoker's murder led to the arrest of several individuals. Jamaal Griffin, a 38-year-old African American male, was convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Griffin was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, as well as an additional 14-26 months in prison. The trial began on May 1, 2023, and the jury found Griffin guilty of all charges on May 18, 2023. The conviction was based on three theories of the charge: premeditated and deliberated murder, the felony murder rule, and lying in wait.
Two other individuals, Jasmine Ingram and Abagail Johnson, were also arrested in connection with Zoker's murder. Ingram, a 23-year-old African American female, was convicted of robbery with a dangerous weapon in 2019 and served one year in prison before being released. Johnson, a 22-year-old African American female, faces murder and attempted robbery charges, and her court case is still ongoing. She remains in Mecklenburg County jail on a $100,000 bond.
The case highlights the tragic loss of Churchill Randolph Zoker and the subsequent legal proceedings that sought justice for his untimely death. The community continues to remember Zoker and mourn the loss of a young life taken too soon.
