CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Two men and a woman were arrested Sunday night after being charged with murdering a man visiting from New York at a north Charlotte motel.
Police arrested Wendell Lemaitre, 33, Lauren English, 18, and Damien Bond, 30, and charged them with first degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy.
They’re charged in the death of Keith Cox, 43, of New York, and the shooting of another man, Clayton King, at the Budget Inn on North Graham Street at I-85 early Sunday morning.
Cox’s family was at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police headquarters Sunday afternoon as detectives questioned the suspects. They said Cox was a concession stand operator for concerts, and was visiting Charlotte to work at a concert Saturday night. They said he went to meet some girls at the motel when he was shot. They believe he was targeted for a robbery because he carried a lot of cash.
“He was lured into the room,” said the victim’s brother, Elliott Cox. “Some guys popped out of the bathroom… and shot him."
Witnesses heard the gunshots just after 1:30 am, and ran to help. "I was trying to stop the bleeding with a sheet -- a sheet pressed against him. He was taking his last breaths,” said a man who didn’t want to be identified. “It’s just tragedy to see someone die right there in your arms.”
Paramedics pronounced Cox dead at the scene. A woman at the hotel described performing CPR on the second victim.
“It’s horrible,” she said. “It’s like something you really can't describe.” CMPD said King is in serious but stable condition at Carolinas Medical Center Sunday night.
The witnesses say they saw three people run from the hotel and get into a dark-colored Toyota Camry. Police spotted a car matching that description a few miles away, and began chasing it. The car crashed at the corner of Harris Boulevard and Old Statesville Road, where officers took three people into custody.
They were formally charged with the crime late Sunday afternoon.
Two of the suspects claimed innocence as police led them to jail in handcuffs. "I'm innocent.. I didn't do nothing," said Lamaitre.
"Wrong place at the wrong time," said Bond. English didn’t answer any questions as police led her to a car.
All three are in the Mecklenburg County jail with no bond.
At least one of the witnesses feels reassured that police arrested suspects in the case. "It makes me feel better to know the murderer is off the streets,” she said. “If they kill one, they'll kill 20."
