On the night of February 4, 2024, 48-year-old Rudolph Cephus Acolatse was fatally shot on Odum Avenue in northwest Charlotte, North Carolina. Acolatse, originally from Liberia, West Africa, was a well-known figure in the community as the owner of Tropix, a popular bar and lounge located on North Tryon Street.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officers responded to the scene shortly after 11:30 p.m., discovering Acolatse with a gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the
scene. Community members present at the location directed officers to the alleged shooter, 45-year-old Ronald Joseph, who was taken into custody without incident. Following an interview with homicide detectives, Joseph was charged with first-degree murder and transferred to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation into the circumstances leading to the shooting is ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with additional information to contact CMPD's Homicide Unit or Crime Stoppers. Acolatse's death has left a significant void in the Charlotte community, where he was known not only as a businessman but also as a father of two and a generous individual who positively impacted those around him.
