Deeaudrey Copeland, 46, a Black man, was shot the evening of Saturday, May 24, 2025, in north Charlotte during Memorial Day weekend. Investigators say two people inside a dark red sedan were struck by gunfire about 8:30 p.m. near West Sugar Creek Road and Reagan Drive. With its windows shattered, the car continued several blocks to a convenience store on the 4000 block of North Graham Street, where officers and Medic responded. Copeland was taken to a hospital and later died of his injuries; the second occupant was expected to recover.

Detectives canvassed the area for surveillance footage and witnesses while memorial postings and obituaries identified Copeland by name and age. On May 29, 2025, police arrested 29-year-old Malcom Smith; he was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to inflict serious injury, and multiple counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle, all linked to the North Graham Street shooting. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.