On the evening of April 19, 2025, 25-year-old Hispanic male Jose Alexander Lara Hernandez was fatally shot in Charlotte, North Carolina. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. in the 5300 block of South Tryon Street, near the York Memorial Cemetery. Upon arrival, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers discovered Jose Alexander Lara Hernandez with a gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
In the days following the homicide, CMPD's investigation identified 22-year-old Danny Cardoza-Lara as a suspect. On April 21, 2025, Cardoza-Lara was located and arrested without incident in Alexandria, Virginia, through a coordinated effort between CMPD’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team and the Alexandria Police Department. A license plate reader had detected a vehicle associated with Cardoza-Lara in a hotel parking lot, leading to his apprehension.
Danny Cardoza-Lara has been charged with murder and robbery with a deadly weapon in connection to the death of Jose Alexander Lara Hernandez. He is awaiting extradition back to Charlotte, where he will face these charges. The CMPD has notified the next of kin of Jose Alexander Lara Hernandez regarding these developments.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting of 25-year-old Hispanic male Jose Alexander Lara Hernandez remains active and ongoing. Authorities have not disclosed details about the motive or any relationship between the victim and the suspect. CMPD continues to urge anyone with information about this incident to contact their Homicide Unit or provide tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
