Four arrests made in fatal drive-by shooting of 13-year-old girl in Monroe, police say
Four people have been arrested and charged in connection with the drive-by shooting that killed a 13-year-old girl in Monroe on Saturday night.
Two of the suspects are teens, Monroe Police officials said.
The girl was sitting with friends at a picnic table on Icemorlee Street around 8 p.m. A black Ford Freestyle drove by, and someone inside opened fire in their direction, then the SUV sped away, investigators said.
She was pronounced dead after being taken to Atrium Health Union hospital, police said in a release. The hospital informed police that she was 12 years old, but according to the family she was 13, a City of Monroe spokesman said.
Police had not released the girl’s name as of Sunday evening. Sharie Maye, who helped organize a community vigil Sunday, confirmed the girl’s name is Loyalti Allah in a message to the Observer.
Monroe is just southeast of Charlotte, in Union County.
On Sunday evening, police announced they had arrested all four suspects wanted in the case. The four were identified as Javon Robinson, 20, Darius Roland, 19, Jamari McLain, 18, and Jamari Crowder, 22. They are in the Union County Jail facing first-degree murder charges with no bond, Monroe officials said in a Facebook post.
All four have a court date scheduled for Sept. 1.
Police said the vehicle used in the shooting, a 2005 Ford Freestyle, had been recovered.
“This is such a devastating act that has far-reaching implications that was entirely uncalled for,” Monroe Police Chief Bryan Gilliard said in a statement. “These individuals took an innocent life for absolutely no reason, and now a family and community has to live with this forever.”
Police found multiple shell casings at the scene, but there were no other victims.
A GoFundMe page and a meal train site have been set up for Loyalti’s family.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Monroe Police Department at 704-282-4700.
This story was originally published July 25, 2021 at 8:50 AM with the headline "Four arrests made in fatal drive-by shooting of 13-year-old girl in Monroe, police say."