Kenneth Lee McKinnon, 56, was fatally shot on September 12, 2023, near Pinewood Cemetery on West Ninth Street in Uptown Charlotte. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene. Authorities have not released a motive or further details about the circumstances of the shooting.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department identified 27-year-old Demarques Arnez Carter as a suspect and the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team arrested him on September 14, 2023. Carter was charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; his record includes 2022 arrests for possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a stolen firearm, and carrying a concealed weapon. McKinnon’s family in Lumberton said he struggled with substance abuse but remembered him as generous and willing to help others; they expressed relief at the arrest and a desire for justice.

The motive remains unknown. If anyone has information about Kenneth or the shooting near Pinewood Cemetery, please come forward.