On the evening of March 19, 2023, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officers responded to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 4400 block of The Plaza in east Charlotte. Upon arrival, they discovered two individuals with apparent gunshot wounds: 21-year-old Michael Anthony Brown Jr. and 16-year-old Jareese Raivon Florybert. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene by MEDIC.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the shooting occurred during an altercation in a parking lot at the Citiside Shoppes, a commercial area near the intersection of Eastway Drive and The Plaza. Witnesses reported a dispute escalating into gunfire, resulting in the deaths of Brown and Florybert. CMPD detectives processed the scene, collecting physical evidence and interviewing potential witnesses to piece together the events leading up to the shooting.
In the days following the incident, CMPD arrested a 16-year-old suspect in connection with the double homicide. The juvenile, whose identity was withheld due to age, was charged with murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle. The arrest provided some measure of progress in the investigation, though authorities continued to seek additional information to fully understand the circumstances and motive behind the tragic event.
The deaths of Brown and Florybert underscored concerns about gun violence in the Charlotte community. Family members and local residents expressed grief and frustration, calling for an end to the senseless violence plaguing the area. Community leaders emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to address the root causes of such incidents and to promote peace and safety within the neighborhood.
