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Suspect charged after machete attack

Reginald Jakes, 27, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department detectives arrested and charged a man in connection to the stabbing of two people on a CATS bus Wednesday afternoon.

Police charged Reginald Jakes, 27, with two counts of attempted murder. Authorities found him Friday on East 7th Street and North Dotger Avenue. He is now in Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office custody.

Previously, detectives said they were looking for a 22-year-old man as a person of interest, but after gathering information about him, they eliminated him as a person of interest. 

Police said around 3:32 p.m., a man was seen riding the CATS bus when he pulled out a weapon and stabbed two victims on the bus. Both victims were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect was last seen walking on 7th street, police report. 

“I pretty much found out there’s a man with a machete on the loose and to watch out," witness Joseph McCabe said.

McCabe lives in the area and says he witnessed the heavy police response.

“As I headed to the hospital and I heard the helicopters and the cops start to swarm in and tape off everything," McCabe said.

Ché Abdullah also lives in the area where the stabbing happened.

"I showed up shortly after it was over and saw a lot of the aftermath, the blood, etcetera, leading up to my doorstep," Abdullah said. "It was pretty, pretty terrifying."

Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center and Charlotte Orthopedic were placed on lockdown as a precaution, based on information provided to them by CMPD.

Kaia Delozier said she saw several police cars in the area where Jakes was arrested Friday, and she felt much safer following the arrest.

"More people could've gotten hurt," Delozier said. "It's pretty scary."

CATS released the following statement: 

"On Wednesday, February 3, two heinous assaults occurred on a CATS bus operating Route 27. There is no tolerance for violence on our transit system or in our community. CATS is working closely with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department to investigate this incident. Jomorei Lamont Geddie has been identified as a person of interest. I hope the victims of this senseless act have a quick and full recovery. I want to applaud the quick actions of our bus operator and the bravery of the passengers who witnessed yesterday’s atrocious event. Safety is, and will always be CATS’ number one priority." 

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