On May 5, 2025, Mykel Washington, a 26-year-old African American male, was fatally shot in a violent incident at the Archdale Mini Mart in Charlotte, North Carolina. The shooting occurred in the parking lot of the convenience store, where Washington and two other individuals were targeted by an assailant who opened fire multiple times. Washington was struck by gunfire and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The other two victims, both male, sustained serious injuries and were transported to a hospital for medical treatment. A 73-year-old man who was inside the store at the time of the shooting was also treated for minor injuries.
Authorities launched an immediate investigation into the incident, leading to the identification and subsequent arrest of 37-year-old Terrence Richardson. Richardson was apprehended on May 7, 2025, at a motel following a citywide alert issued by law enforcement. He was charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with the shooting. Reports indicate that Richardson approached the victims in the parking lot before firing multiple rounds. After Washington was fatally shot, one of the surviving victims attempted to flee into the store, but Richardson pursued him, continuing to fire inside the aisles of the Mini Mart before fleeing the scene.
Washington had a prior criminal history, including an arrest in 2018 for murder charges. He had also served time in prison for robbery before being released in recent years. His death marks a tragic end to a life that had previously been entangled with the criminal justice system. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
