CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 19-year-old was arrested in connection with the shooting death of a 14-year-old Garinger High School basketball player, investigators announced Tuesday.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police responded to a shooting at a home on Keswick Avenue in north Charlotte around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. When officers arrived, they found 14-year-old Johnnie McClendon shot to death. Johnnie's family confirmed he was a Garinger HS student.
Johnnie had just come home from his younger brother's birthday party when the shooting happened.
"I heard something pop, and I said, 'What is that?'" McClendon's grandmother said. "And he ran on out the door. He had a gun in his hand, going out the door."
CMPD identified 19-year-old Myhijee Major as a suspect in the case. Major surrendered to police early Tuesday morning and was taken into custody after an interview. Major was charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with Johnnie's killing.
Court documents obtained by WCNC Charlotte say Major ran from the scene after his gun went off and killed Johnnie. Major appeared in court Wednesday afternoon. A Mecklenburg County judge set a bond for Major at $250,000. The state originally recommended a 'no bond hold." This means Major would wait in custody until the next court appearance.
There was confusion in the courtroom Wednesday after the judge learned there was a conflict with Major's public defender. Judge Jennifer Fleet said her eventual bond decision came down to a few factors. She was made aware Major had multiple pending charges over the past year. Some of those charges included possession of a stolen firearm, larceny, a stolen vehicle and more.
Inside, family and friends were asked to speak on Major's behalf. His mother approached the judge and said "He is a good kid. He is making messed up decisions and is trying to find his way. It's messed up, but as he is getting older, I have to let him learn and find out."
His mother told WCNC Charlotte's Austin Walker she does not know if she will bond him out.
Alvin Jacobs, whose daughter went to school with Johnnie, said this is a tough loss for the community. He was just getting to know the teen and the teen's brother who both go to school with his daughter.
“The conversation, their spirit was just so respectful ... not respectability as far as politics," Jacobs said. "It wasn’t 'Yes sir, no sir.' Their demeanor was so calming."
Will Adams, a community activist, said he was stunned to hear the news.
“I spoke to the father ... went to greet him and shake his hand, and you could see the hurt, pain and tears all in his face,” Adams said. “He said he could not shake my hands because he had blood on his hands because he was just cleaning up the blood. His son's blood.”
The incident raised many concerns and questions about kids and their access to guns.
“Everybody needs to stop sugarcoating it and call it what it is,” Adams said. “We have a sickness with these kids and these guns, and they are able to do this and do that and social media.”
“Devastating, frustrating ... I’m angry,” Jacobs said. “It feels like our community, the city of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, the state of North Carolina and the United States of America is dropping the ball on our kids.”
The following message was shared with the Garinger High School community after Johnnie's death:
"Good morning Garinger High School families. This is Principal Pratt with an important message.
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that one of our students, Johnnie McClendon, died last night. We are heartbroken by this loss of life and we grieve with his family and friends. We ask that you keep Johnnie’s family, friends, and our students and staff in your thoughts and prayers.
Death can be difficult for us to understand, especially when it is sudden. We may feel a variety of emotions: shock, sadness, or confusion. What is most important is that we care for and support each other. The Crisis Response Team at Garinger HS has made plans to respond to the emotional needs of all students. Counselors will be highly visible throughout the building and available to assist with grief counseling.
If your family has experienced a death or similar loss recently, Johnnie’s death may bring up feelings about that death. While this may be a normal experience, we want to provide assistance if needed. Please make your student's teacher or our counselors aware if there is any additional information the school should be aware of so we can provide the support your student needs. This difficult time can be stressful and confusing. A sudden death may be disturbing to you as well as to your student. It is for this reason that we especially want you to know of our care and support.
Thank you for your continued support of Garinger HS."
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Contact Austin Walker at awalker@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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