On March 13, 2026 Josiah Smalls, 18, pled guilty to the murder of Jaquad Pearson, 19, in Charlotte, NC at a NAPA Auto store. Demetrius Adams, 19, pled guilty to discharging a gun. In 2014 Jaquad played little league football for the Beatties Ford Saints in Charlotte.
Jaquad was murdered on January 15, 2025 on Brookshire Blvd. in the parking lot of a NAPA auto store. Jaquad was sitting in a red Dodge Charger at 8 p.m. when Josiah and Demetrius shot at him.
Several bullets hit Jaquad and he died on the scene. The suspects were arrested and charged with murder.
At their March 2026 trial Josiah pled guilty to second degree murder and conspiracy to commit discharging a
weapon into a vehicle in operation. He was sentenced to 125-162 months in prison.
Demetrius pled guilty to discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle and conspiracy to commit discharging a weapon into vehicle in operation. He was sentenced to 64-89 months in prison.
