CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A second man has been charged with murder in connection to a Christmas shooting and robbery that left one woman dead, according to court documents.
James Ashley Mason, 24, was arrested on Tuesday, Jan. 7, and booked into the Mecklenburg County Jail on charges of murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy.
According to arrest documents, CMPD officers were called to 4835 Shamrock Drive for a vehicle crash at 11:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. The 911 caller said they saw a vehicle run a red light and then crash down into an embankment.
Officers, Medic, and Charlotte Fire responded to the crash scene, where they found a woman, identified as Kennedi Aniyah Flora Jones, in the driver’s seat. Charlotte Fire crews had to reportedly use a chainsaw to free her from the car.
Jones was transported to Atrium Health Main, where medical staff discovered she had been shot multiple times. Jones was pronounced deceased just after midnight on Dec. 26, records state.
During CMPD’s investigation, court documents say detectives discovered a conversation between Jones and another individual on social media, addressing a drug transaction and a meeting place. Detectives were able to locate ‘fired evidence’ at the meeting place and in Jones’ vehicle during the accident, showing she was reportedly in the car at the time of the shooting.
Documents state that video surveillance obtained by CMPD showed the suspects following Jones’ vehicle after the shooting to the crash site, where one went to Jones’ crashed vehicle and removed property before fleeing the scene.
CMPD was able to locate a cell phone inside Jones’ vehicle, and after obtaining a search warrant for the phone data, was able to trace phone conversations back to Mason. Court documents state several phone conversations occurred prior to the murder, including Mason asking for “help with robbing the victim of her drugs, jewelry, and money.”
The first arrest in this case happened about one week after the murder. Dreshon Moreno, 21, was arrested and charged with murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon. Moreno continues to be held without bond at the Mecklenburg County Jail.
Records show Moreno’s case is due back in court on Jan. 22, 2025.
No bond has been set for Mason at this time. His first court appearance is on Wednesday.
