Sharod Raheen Mathis, a 22-year-old African American male, tragically passed away on December 4, 2016, in Salisbury, North Carolina. Born on March 6, 1994, in Rowan County, Sharod was the son of Melson Mathis and Shakai Humphires, and was raised by Mark and Tiffany Rushmeyer. He attended North Rowan High School and was last employed with Perdue Poultry Farms.
On the night of his death, Sharod was involved in a shooting incident outside the Firewater Restaurant and Lounge on Avalon Drive.
The shooting occurred around 1:30 a.m., and Sharod was taken to Novant Health Rowan Medical Center by a private vehicle, where he succumbed to his injuries. The Salisbury Police Department, along with the State Bureau of Investigation, launched an investigation into the incident.
The investigation revealed that the shooting at the Firewater Restaurant and Lounge was connected to another shooting that occurred a few hours later, resulting in the death of a 7-year-old girl named A'yanna Allen. Authorities suspected the connection between the two shootings from the beginning but lacked sufficient evidence to prove it initially. The police arrested 21-year-old Savannah Maria Queen for obstruction of justice related to the Firewater bar shooting. Queen was accused of removing a weapon from the scene and denying ever seeing a gun.
The case remains under investigation, with detectives working diligently to gather more evidence and make further arrests. The tragic death of Sharod Raheen Mathis has left a lasting impact on his family and the Salisbury community, as they continue to seek justice for his untimely passing.
