A dispute that began on the road escalated to a fatal shooting in a grocery store parking lot, claiming the life of 38-year-old Sean Brandon Mason, a male, on the afternoon of Thursday, February 19, 2026, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The chain of events reportedly started when one driver's reckless behavior caught the attention of another, leading to a tragic and violent end.
The incident unfolded around 4:30 p.m. in the parking lot of a Food Lion on The Plaza, near East W.T.
Harris Boulevard. Investigators report that James Calvin Rothwell Jr., 55, encountered Sean Brandon Mason driving recklessly on The Plaza. Rothwell stated that Mason attempted to pass him multiple times. Before pulling into the Food Lion parking lot to drop off his girlfriend, Rothwell had alerted a sheriff's deputy who was directing traffic about Mason's driving.
According to authorities and court records, Mason followed Rothwell into the parking lot and pulled his vehicle up next to Rothwell's. An altercation and a heated argument ensued. Rothwell told investigators that Mason made a gesture as if he had a weapon, though Rothwell admitted he never actually saw a gun. Fearing for his safety, Rothwell fired several shots.
Both vehicles fled the scene after the gunfire. Mason, who had been struck, crashed his vehicle into a nearby building and died from his injuries. During the incident, multiple other vehicles in the parking lot were hit by bullets, including one belonging to a 75-year-old woman who had just parked. She was not injured but was left shaken by the ordeal.
Following the investigation, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police arrested James Calvin Rothwell Jr. He has been charged with the murder of Sean Brandon Mason. In addition to the murder charge, Rothwell also faces three counts of discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle.
