CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Three people have been arrested for the deadly shooting outside of a Charlotte barber shop on Valentine's Day, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
CMPD has arrested 21-year-old Khalil Lateef Bass, 22-year-old Kenya Romain Venable Jr., and 23-year-old Akilah Theresa Parham. Bass and Venable have been charged with murder and discharging a weapon into occupied property. Parham is charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and for filing a false police report.
Around 4 p.m. on Feb. 14, the victim, 21-year-old Natajah Demetrius Johnson, was sitting in his car waiting to get his haircut at Master Kutz, a barbershop in West Charlotte located near Tuckaseegee Road and Little Road Rock, according to the shop owner, Willis Draughn, Jr.
Draughn said another car pulled up and the people inside began shooting at Johnson.
"Our community -- they go through so much," Draughn said.
Draughn had his barbershop in the backdrop of another violent act in Charlotte even as his nonprofit works to find a solution.
"Our community has become violent," he said.
Draughn runs two barbershops and the nonprofit Be You Be Great. His message is about working to curb violence in the area.
"The phone call -- I won’t say it’s shocking," he recalled.
Bond was denied Monday in court for Bass and Venable. The shooting investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information can call CMPD at (704) 432-TIPS. Anonymous tips can be shared with Crime Stoppers by either calling 704-334-1600 or by uploading information online.
Contact Austin Walker at awalker@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Note: WCNC instituted a policy in March 2021 regarding the broadcast or posting of mugshots.
WCNC will only air or post a mugshot if the person has been formally charged with a crime and in a few other cases. The exceptions include: If it appears the person could be a danger to themselves or others or if they are wanted by authorities; to differentiate between people with a common name; if the photos could encourage more victims to come forward. The news-editorial leadership may also decide to use a mugshot based on the severity of the crime(s) committed and/or the level of public interest in the crime and ensuing criminal proceedings.