On November 13, 2023, 34-year-old Keia Javon Garnett was fatally shot during a double shooting incident on West Sugar Creek Road in Charlotte, North Carolina. The shooting occurred near a Shell gas station and a McDonald's, where a large group had gathered and a fight escalated into gunfire. Garnett, a mother of four, was believed to be an innocent bystander and not involved in the altercation.
She was transported to a local hospital for emergency surgery but tragically succumbed to her injuries.
Another individual was also injured in the shooting and was hospitalized in serious condition. Due to the quick response of North Tryon Division officers and assistance from community members, the suspect, 23-year-old Shikeem Sands, was located near the incident location shortly after the incident occurred. Sands was taken into custody and transported to the Law Enforcement Center in Uptown to speak with homicide detectives. At the conclusion of the interview, Sands was transferred into the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
In August 2024, Sands pled guilty to second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was subsequently sentenced to a prison term ranging from 192 to 252 months. This conviction brought some measure of justice for Garnett's family, though the loss of her life continues to resonate deeply within the community.
Garnett's passing left a profound void, especially for her four children who now face life without their mother. Her funeral services were held on November 25, 2023, at Greater Temple Baptist Church in Charlotte, where family and friends gathered to honor her memory and mourn her untimely death.
