CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said no charges are being sought in connection to a deadly shooting where a suspected thief was shot and killed by a customer at a Charlotte QuikTrip gas station on Wednesday.
The person killed has been identified as David Joseph Leonhardt, 32, police said. His family has been notified of his death.
Just before 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023, a CMPD officer was alerted of a larceny at the QuikTrip gas station located in the 10100 block of Bellhaven Boulevard.
The responding officer was able to locate the suspect vehicle connected to the reported larceny and observed Leonhardt “discharge a firearm from the vehicle” as he left the gas station.
CMPD said Leonhardt drove back to the gas station, where an altercation occurred between him and a customer.
“We were washing the truck. Nothing out of the norm. We hear one singular bang, which we thought was a gun,” said Hakim Simmons, Cook’s Volunteer Firefighter. “We kind of all kind of scattered because we weren’t sure exactly what was happening.”
The gas station customer fired at the accused robber, striking him, police said. Medic pronounced Leonhardt deceased at the scene.
“It gives you a better perspective of, you know, this job,” Simmons said. “I mean, it really keeps you on your toes sometimes cause you never know what can happen.”
CMPD said they took the gas station patron involved in the deadly shooting to the Law Enforcement Center in uptown Charlotte on Wednesday. Currently, CMPD said it’s not looking for any other suspects, and no charges are being sought at this time.
The investigation into this case is active and ongoing.
Anyone with further information is asked to call 704-435-TIPS. Residents can also call Charlotte Crime Stoppers and leave an anonymous tip at 704-334-1600.
