The woman broke up with Laquell and he could not handle it, he forced his way in and then chased her
Laquell Thames, 28, was sentenced to prison on October 8, 2025 after being convicted of raping a woman in Charlotte, NC.
Laquell Thames
On June 16, 2021, Laquell’s girlfriend met with him to break up and end their relationship. The two had been in a dating relationship on and off for several years.
Laquell began to cry and was distraught. The woman then went home. Laquell called her 112 times within an hour after the relationship ended.
The woman did not answer. Laquell then drove to her apartment, forced his way in and threatened her with a gun.
Laquell strangled the woman and then raped her. The victim managed to get away and start driving to the hospital with the defendant immediately in pursuit in his own vehicle.
While the victim was on the phone with 911, the defendant followed closely behind her around the Atrium Health University Hospital multiple times. When police arrived, Laquell abandoned his pursuit of her and proceeded to lead cops on a multi vehicle chase across Charlotte.
Laquell was finally arrested charged with rape, kidnapping, and other charges.
At his 2025 trial the suspect was found guilty of first degree rape, first degree kidnapping, assault by strangulation, misdemeanor breaking or entering, and communicating threats.
He was given 240 –348 months in prison. For the remaining charges, he was sentenced to a consecutive sentence of 6 -17 months in prison; that sentence was suspended pending his successful completion of 24 months of supervised probation. Thames must also register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
