On January 24, 2023, at approximately 10:30 p.m., 30-year-old Devon Simmons was fatally shot at the Citgo gas station on West Sugar Creek Road in Charlotte, North Carolina. The incident occurred while Simmons was at the gas pumps; the suspect fled the scene immediately after the shooting. Upon arrival, officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department found Simmons with multiple gunshot wounds, and he was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.
The following day, January 25, 2023, 45-year-old Earl Marcelius Likely was arrested and charged with Simmons' murder. He faced charges including one count of murder and one count of attempted murder.
However, in July 2024, the District Attorney's office dismissed all charges against Likely without leave, effectively declaring him innocent. The dismissal followed extensive legal proceedings, including testimonies and motions from both the defense and prosecution. Notably, there was no plea agreement involved in the dismissal of charges.
As of December 2024, the case remains unresolved, with no new suspects publicly identified or arrested in connection with Devon Simmons' death. The circumstances leading to the dismissal of charges against Likely have not been fully disclosed, leaving unanswered questions about the events that transpired on the night of January 24, 2023.
