The most recent suspect was arrested in Atlanta by the FBI
Dontae Harrison, 28, was arrested on August 18, 2025 charged with the murder of Demarcus Gerald, 25. The victim was murdered at the Bojangles restaurant located at 1401 West Trade Street Charlotte, NC. Cedric Cotten, 27, was the first suspect arrested in the murder.
Dontae Harrison, Demarcus Gerald, Cedric Cotten
On December 7, 2024 Demarcus his friend, and several suspects met up at the back of the Bojangles to allegedly buy percocets from Cedric, court documents say. Follow Charlotte Alerts on Instagram.
Cedric and 2 other suspects then get in the back seat of the victim’s vehicle. One of the suspects pulled out a gun and pistol whipped the friend of Demarcus and demanded cash. Cedric is accused of running from the vehicle.
The friend gives the suspect $500 cash. Demarcus is forced to give the suspect ounces of marijuana.
The suspects then fled. Demarcus is accused of shooting at the suspects. Cedric is accused of firing shots back, and shooting Demarcus in the head.
The suspects fled in a black Porsche. A individual found Demarcus by the Bojangles dumpster shot in the head and bleeding.
The caller contacted 911, EMS arrived and took Demarcus to the hospital where he died a day later on December 8, 2024 during emergency surgery.
Surveillance video was reviewed. Cedric was identified as the suspect through police databases. See more Bojangles news here. Cedric’s DMV photo from South Carolina was compared to the surveillance footage from the crime scene.
On December 13, 2024 Cedric was arrested charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and murder. But just 8 months later Dontae was arrested in Atlanta by FBI agents charged with the murder of Demarcus also.
Dontae will be extradited to Charlotte and transferred to the custody of the jail.
