By Ryan Steal
PEOPLE has learned that a 3-year-old boy was killed when 150 gunshots were fired into their great-North grandmother’s Carolina home on Tuesday night.
According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department detectives, the shooters who killed Asiah Fiqueroia are suspected of being involved in several other shootings in the vicinity.
Two vehicles drive up in front of the Charlotte property as seen in the surveillance footage from the shooting. Several people emerge from the trucks and shoot 11 seconds of gunfire towards the house.
The vehicles then speed away from the scene.
Asiah’s 4-year-old sister was also hit by a bullet, but she is expected to recover fully.
Susie Whitley, Asiah’s great-grandmother, spoke to WBTV about the shooting, which began just as she was going to retire for the night.
“At first, I thought, I thought I heard gunshots, but I really didn’t know,” Whitley explained. “But then when I heard them hitting the door, I knew someone was shooting at my house.”
Her granddaughter then began crying and yelling that Asiah had been shot.
“When I went into [Asiah’s] room, my grandson was in there, was holding him and he said, ‘Grandma, I think he’s gone,’” added Whitley. “I didn’t want to believe it.”
Asiah was regarded by Whitley as kind and caring. In December, he would have turned four.
Speaking directly to the suspects, CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings said “How can you wake up this morning knowing that your actions last night took the life of a 3-year-old, who will never get the opportunity to grow up and play, as you have?”
Investigators believe Tuesday’s shooting is part of a series of multiple shootings linked to two killings.
Police also believe the shootings are linked to students at Huntersville’s Hopewell High School.
Detectives believe students from Huntersville’s North Mecklenburg High School and Charlotte’s Chambers High School are also engaged.
They’ve stated that all the students are most likely teens.
There have been 661 incidents of gunshots being directed into dwellings so far in 2021.
Charlotte Crime Stoppers can be reached at (704) 334-1600 or (704) 432-TIPS if you have any information on the shootings.
