Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Trinity Scot Deese
Age : 34
Gender : Male
Race : White
Date : 08/25/2023
Location : 5000 block of Roundstone Way
City : Charlotte
County : Mecklenburg
State : North Carolina
Agency : Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
Officer(s) :Claude Neer
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during domestic violence call and reported stabbing
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 08/25/2023, at approximately 12:25 a.m., the wife of 31-year-old Trinity Scot Deese called 911 from the couple’s apartment on Roundstone Way in Charlotte. She reported that Deese had stabbed her multiple times and that she believed she was going to die. Deese could be heard in the background of the call. Deese separately called 911 and reported that he was deaf and could not hear the operator; according to the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s subsequent review, Deese told the operator that he had stabbed his wife multiple times and that she was in significant pain.
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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers were dispatched to the apartment shortly before 12:30 a.m. When officers arrived, they could hear the woman screaming from inside the residence. Officers entered the apartment and observed blood as they moved toward the rear of the home.
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According to the subsequent investigation, officers reached a bathroom and observed Deese actively stabbing his wife as she lay on the floor. The encounter was captured on an officer’s body-worn camera. CMPD Officer Claude Neer fired his handgun four times at Deese.
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Deese was struck by Neer’s gunfire and died at the apartment. His wife had sustained multiple stab wounds and was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. She survived.
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The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation assumed responsibility for investigating Neer’s fatal use of force. Neer was placed on paid administrative leave following the shooting.
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Deese’s wife later told investigators that Deese had been hearing voices before the incident and that there was a family history of schizophrenia.
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The SBI completed its investigation and provided the case file to the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office on 11/12/2023. District Attorney Spencer Merriweather reviewed the investigative evidence to determine whether Neer’s shooting of Deese constituted a criminal offense.
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On 12/11/2023, Merriweather announced that no criminal charges would be filed against Neer. The DA concluded that Neer used deadly force to stop the ongoing attack against Deese’s wife.
OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Claude Neer was the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officer who fired the four shots that killed Deese. The Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s formal review specifically identifies Neer as the officer whose actions were investigated by the SBI and reviewed for possible criminal charges.
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The criminal review was completed on 12/11/2023, when District Attorney Spencer Merriweather declined to prosecute Neer for the shooting.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/mountain/news/2023/08/25/victim-stabbed--multiple--times-before-fatal-police-shooting--cmpd-says
https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/investigation-underway-officer-involved-shooting-north-charlotte/275-531c21af-8423-494c-b983-1534f69ac753
https://www.qcnews.com/news/charlotte-mecklenburg-police-department/cmpd-officer-was-right-in-fatally-shooting-man-who-stabbed-wife-numerous-times-da/
https://www.charlottenc.gov/cmpd/News-Information/Newsroom/Officer-Involved-Shooting-in-the-North-Division-8-25
https://www.wbtv.com/2023/12/11/da-officer-wont-be-charged-after-shooting-killing-man-north-charlotte-stabbing/
https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/no-charges-filed-against-cmpd-officer-who-killed-domestic-violence-suspect/2CGRTYLKZVD4LAW4OWZZKD36AE/
https://charmeckda.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/121123_1.pdf
