The calm of a Thursday afternoon in Charlotte, N.C. was shattered by a chain of extreme violence that saw one man killed, another critically wounded, and a terrifying kidnapping before police were forced to engage in a dramatic shootout. What started as a simple shots-fired call quickly escalated into a high-stakes, multi-scene manhunt that only ended when officers put their lives on the line to stop the threat.
The whole ordeal kicked off just after 4 p.m. when Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officers rushed to North Hoskins Road in northwest Charlotte. Upon arriving, they found two men had been shot. Both victims were quickly transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, but unfortunately, 38-year-old Justin Westbrooks Carlton succumbed to his wounds. The second victim remains in the hospital, fighting for his life, while detectives worked to piece together what exactly happened.
Before police could fully process the initial shooting scene, the situation took a far more terrifying turn. The gunman, later identified as 28-year-old Joseph Andrade, forcibly entered a nearby home, kidnapped a woman at gunpoint, and fled in a stolen vehicle. The CMPD immediately mobilized, launching an urgent pursuit of the suspect’s vehicle across multiple divisions in the city. This wasn’t a typical high-speed chase, though; Andrade showed his desperate intent by firing repeatedly at the pursuing officers, hitting several patrol cars in the process.
The chase finally came to a crashing halt near Freedom Drive and Morehead Street. However, the danger was far from over. Andrade’s vehicle crashed, but instead of surrendering, he bolted on foot, a firearm still in hand, and continued to shoot in the direction of the police. This is where the training and bravery of the CMPD officers truly came to the fore. Perceiving an imminent and deadly threat to themselves and the public, officers returned fire, striking and ultimately killing the suspect at the scene.
In the chaos, the kidnapped woman managed to escape her ordeal unharmed—a major victory in an otherwise tragic day. CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings was quick to commend his personnel, describing the situation as “an incredibly dangerous and fast-moving” event. He emphasized that the officers’ priority was always to protect lives, especially ensuring the safe recovery of the victim, which they successfully achieved. Though four officers were taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure, thankfully, no officers sustained injuries in the shooting.
As is standard for any officer-involved shooting, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has taken the lead on reviewing the use of force, working separately from CMPD’s Internal Affairs Division, which will conduct its own parallel review. While the police confirmed that Andrade was the sole suspect in both the initial shooting and the kidnapping, a critical question still looms: What was the motive behind this violent, deadly spree?
Detectives are actively investigating whether Andrade had any prior connection to the shooting victims, though early reports suggest he may have known at least one of them, and that the kidnapping may have been a random act of opportunity during his escape. A firearm was recovered at the final scene, and investigators are meticulously reviewing all evidence, including body-worn camera and helicopter footage, to understand every moment of this devastating event that cost two men their lives. For now, the public can rest assured there is no ongoing threat, but the investigation into the motives of a single man’s deadly rampage is far from over.