People do stupid things during riots and violent protests. Rayquan Borum, 24, killed 26-year-old Justin Carr during violent 2016 riots in uptown Charlotte, NC.
Rayquan was sentenced today to spend at least 24 years in prison for the 2016 murder of Justin.
The trial began February 11, 2019.
On September 21, 2016, Mr. Carr went to uptown Charlotte to protest the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police killing of Keith Lamont Scott. Keith was shot by police during a gun standoff. The community was outraged at the killing, which erupted in riots and violent protest in Charlotte. The riots were so severe that a state of emergency was declared and the Army National Guard was sent to Charlotte to restore order.
At one point during the protest, a confrontation between police and protesters occurred outside of the Omni Charlotte Hotel. It was during this confrontation that Rayquan – who had earlier participated in the looting of a nearby business – pulled out a gun and pointed it in the direction of police.
The gun did not fire, so he turned and aimed again, pulling the trigger. The shot struck Mr. Carr in the head, causing catastrophic injuries. Mr. Carr died in the hospital the following day. Street cameras captured Rayquan firing the shot and fleeing the scene. Witnesses also testified to seeing Rayquan fire the shot.
In an interview with police, as well as phone calls he placed from the Mecklenburg County Jail, Rayquan admitted to the shooting.
