On May 5, 2024, at approximately 6 p.m., 51-year-old Shawn Dwayne Powell was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Midnight Rodeo, located in the 9600 block of Albemarle Road in east Charlotte, North Carolina. At the time, Powell was working as a vendor at a flea market hosted at the venue.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) responded to the scene following reports of an assault with a deadly weapon.
Upon arrival, officers found Powell with a gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the days following the incident, CMPD released surveillance footage showing a suspect fleeing the area. The suspect was later identified as 19-year-old Juan David Rodriguez Garcia. On May 21, 2024, CMPD issued warrants for Garcia's arrest on charges of murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon. Authorities have described Garcia as armed and dangerous and have requested the public's assistance in locating him.
Powell's family, including his mother, Rachel Ammons, remembered him as a hardworking family man who was dedicated to supporting his loved ones. Ammons expressed her grief over the loss of her only son and her hope that the perpetrator would be brought to justice.
As of December 2024, Garcia remains at large. CMPD continues to seek information regarding his whereabouts and urges anyone with knowledge of the case to contact Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
