On June 29, 2014, at around 3:15 am, the suspect, later identified as Ranji Charles, was riding in a car with the victim, Corey Shannon and another passenger, Elliot Byes. A surveillance camera showed the car pull up to a gas pump at the Raceway gas station at 303 E. Ledbetter Road. On the video, Ranji Charles is seen getting out of the car, retrieving something from the trunk and then approaching Corey Shannon who was sitting in the right rear passenger seat of the car. Charles and Shannon appeared to engage in some sort of argument and witnesses nearby said they heard a single gunshot. One witness observed Charles and Byes pull Shannon’s body from the car. Charles then drives the car to other patrons in the parking lot and asked if they were calling the police. Charles then pointed a gun at them and demanded their cell phones. After getting the cell phones, Charles drove away from the location. Byes left on foot.
Approximately 30 minutes later, someone called 911 to report a car had driven into a fence at 1918 S. Cockrell Hill Road. A witness went to check on the driver of the car. The driver, later identified as Charles, dislayed a handgun to the witness and ordered him to leave. the witness retreated and then heard a single gunshot. Officers were dispatched and took Charles into custody. Charles had a gunshot wound to the face and was transported to Charlton Methodist where he is in critical condition.
After obtaining a search warrant for the car, interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage, detectives placed Charles in custody. He will be charged with homicide which is documented on service number 156132-2014.
Charles has also been linked to another murder which occurred earlier that same day in the 5400 block of Preakness Lane, documented on service number 156301-2014.