The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death of Aaron Quentin Winchester.According to a CMPD Press Release, CMPD Officer David Jester was responding to an incident on Tuesday, May 20th, shortly after 1:00 p.m. regarding a domestic assault and subsequent traffic accident.
The calls for service indicated a male, later identified as Mr. Winchester, was assaulting a female in a vehicle and that the vehicle had crashed into a pole on Dalton Avenue. The male occupant (Mr. Winchester) exited the vehicle and the female driver drove away.
Officer Jester, 36, has nearly 13 years of service with the Department. He is assigned to the Metro Division and is a member of CMPD’s SWAT Team. According to Officer Jester’s statement, witness statements and evidence collected at the scene:
- Officer Jester arrived on the scene and saw an individual fitting the description of the male from the domestic violence call for service.
- Officer Jester stopped his patrol vehicle and approached Mr. Winchester to begin questioning him about the incident.
- Mr. Winchester took off running on Sylvania Avenue towards Graham Street & Officer Jester began shouting commands to Mr. Winchester.
- As he was running, Mr. Winchester reached back with his right hand to remove something from the back right pocket of his pants.
- When Officer Jester saw Mr. Winchester remove a silver handgun from his pocket, he pulled his service weapon.
- As Mr. Winchester started to turn toward the officer with the gun in his hand, Officer Jester fired his weapon four times, striking Mr. Winchester twice in the back.
- Mr. Winchester was pronounced dead at the scene & Mr. Winchester’s handgun was recovered beside his body.
- Mr. Winchester did not fire his gun.
As is standard procedure with officer-involved shootings, Officer Jester has been placed on paid administrative leave. Also consistent with standard procedure, Homicide detectives are conducting the criminal investigation and will present the results to the Mecklenburg County District Attorney. Internal Affairs is conducting a separate, parallel internal investigation. A Shooting Review Board, made up the officer's chain of command, Internal Affairs and an outside civilian participant from the Community Relations Committee, will review all available evidence and interview appropriate witnesses to determine whether all departmental policies were followed.