The shooting happened on Sept. 22 on East Arrowood Road.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — No criminal charges will be filed in the deadly September shooting that left a suspect dead and a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer seriously injured.
The Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s office reviewed the case and declined to pursue charges related to the death of Nelson Javier Funez Reyes, 37, following a traffic stop and a shooting on Sept. 22.
According to police, Officers Kenneth Kludy and Joshua Heater stopped a vehicle driven by Reyes around 7 p.m. on East Arrowood Road. The stop was connected to an earlier assault with a deadly weapon call. As officers approached and began speaking with Reyes, he allegedly produced a 9mm semiautomatic firearm and pointed it at them, prompting both officers to discharge their weapons.
The investigation recovered two spent shell casings from Reyes’ firearm inside his vehicle, though investigators could not determine if these were from the traffic stop confrontation or the earlier assault incident. Officer Kludy was seriously injured during the exchange but was later released from the hospital. Reyes was transported to a hospital where he later died from his injuries.
Investigators determined that Kludy’s injuries were caused by fragments from a bullet fired by Officer Heater that struck the vehicle’s frame and splintered. Police Chief Johnny Jennings emphasized this was not a friendly fire incident, stating both officers “maintained strict muzzle discipline” throughout the confrontation.
“This incident highlights the dangers our officers face every day,” Jennings said in a statement. “Our officers acted professionally and courageously in a life-threatening situation, and their actions prevented further harm to the community.”
CMPD’s Internal Affairs Division continues to conduct a separate investigation, which remains ongoing.
