Police Shoot Man Holding Pregnant Woman Hostage At Gunpoint

CHARLOTTE, NC -- A male suspect was shot and seriously wounded by Charlotte police officers responding to a breaking-and-entering call in west Charlotte Monday night after they found him holding a pregnant woman hostage at gunpoint.

The incident unfolded after Metro Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers responded to a 911 call in 1900 block of Holly Street around 10 p.m. Sept. 25. When they arrived, they found suspect Jonathan Autry, 28, holding a gun on the woman. A child was also in the home.

“The officers repeatedly ordered the suspect to drop his gun and let the woman go,” CMPD said in a statement. In the course of the exchange, the woman was able to “create a slight separation” from Autry. “The officers perceived an imminent deadly threat and subsequently fired their weapon,” shooting Autry several times, CMPD said.

Autry was transported to the hospital and is listed as in critical but stable condition. Once discharged, he will be transferred to the Mecklenburg County Jail and formally charge with first degree burglary, first degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Neither the woman nor the child were harmed in the incident, and the woman was taken to the hospital as a precaution, police said. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news in Charlotte — or other neighborhoods. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

Witnesses told police that another suspect, who was described as a short, heavyset man wearing dark clothing, fled the house before police arrived.

According to CMPD, the home invasion was not random. “Although the victim and suspect were unknown to one another, the gunman used the name of the victim’s husband when demanding the family’s money. He was not home at the time of the incident,” CMPD said.

The CMPD officers involved in the shooting were Shon Sheffield, Joseph Bauer and James Tindall.The officers were placed on administrative leave, per protocol, while the Internal Affairs Bureau conducts a parallel investigation.

CMPD asks that anyone with information about this incident call 704-432-TIPS, or call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

This story has been updated.

Photo via Pixabay

Keep up with more local news by liking Charlotte Patch on Facebook: