Life is not always a bed of roses

Suspect surrenders in pregnant teen's killing - CharlotteObserver.com

Suspect surrenders in pregnant teen's killing By Steve Lyttle, Christopher Kirkpatrick and Ely Portillo Observer Staff Writers Posted: Monday, Sep. 14, 2009 Mitchell, 36, was wanted on warrants for statutory rape and indecent liberties with minor, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said. Homicide detectives are questioning him about the shooting.

The 15-year-old girl, Tiffany Wright, was waiting for the bus near her home in north Charlotte. The girl's unborn baby was delivered safely at Carolinas Medical Center a few hours after the shooting.

The girl was 32 weeks pregnant. She was an 11th-grader at Hawthorne High School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials say. Hawthorne offers a special program for pregnant students and those with young babies.

Early Monday afternoon, police told reporters that they believe the shooting was the result of a domestic dispute, and they indicated that they were looking for a suspect.

The shooting happened about 6 a.m. in the 6700 block of Mallard Creek Road, between Sugar Creek Road and W.T. Harris Boulevard. Police said they responded to a report of a shooting and found Wright in the street, shot in the head.

The girl was taken by Medic to CMC, where she died.

The baby, a girl, was listed in critical condition at CMC on Monday afternoon.

WBTV is reporting that the girl's foster mother had walked the girl to the bus stop but had gone back home to get the girl a glass of water. When she returned, WBTV says, she discovered that the girl had been shot.

"A relative heard what sounded like three or four shots," police Chief Rodney Monroe said Monday morning.

Tiffany Wright lived on Walnut Park Drive, off Mallard Park Drive and Mallard Creek Road.

Police closed Mallard Creek Road for several hours and set up a perimeter in the area, looking for a possible suspect or suspects. Mallard Creek Road was reopened late this morning, but police continued searching the area for several hours afterward, even using a helicopter.

Ashelee Barber, who said she was a niece of Tiffany Wright's foster mother, said Tiffany had managed to keep a positive outlook on life, despite having dealt with a number of problems.

"She was just a very sweet girl," said Barber, a college freshman. "I assume she was going through a lot of stuff.

"When people go through tough times, they sometimes develop hateful feelings, but she wasn't that way."

Tracey Pickard, Hawthorne High's principal, said Tiffany Wright came to the school in August as a student in the TAPS program for pregnant students. She said the girl had impressed teachers.

"It was clear that Tiffany was academically strong and off to a good start," Pickard said. She said the girl's teachers told her that Tiffany "was extremely focused."

Fellow students at Hawthorne High School Monday afternoon remembered Wright as a smart, friendly girl who did well in school and was always sweet.

"She always had a smile on her face," said Cameron Blakeney, a sophomore who met her at the movies last summer. "She loved to joke. I'm like, devastated, like a lot of people," Blakeney said. "We're all pretty torn up on the inside."

CMS superintendent Peter Gorman arrived at the school about 1:15 p.m. to make sure district crisis teams were in place and helping, "students who may be in a fragile condition."

Pastor Gregory Moss of St. Paul Baptist Church, near Hawthorne, also came to the school Monday afternoon to offer counsel to any students in need. He said helping young people cope with violence can be difficult in a society that seems saturated with it.

"A lot of these young people have become desensitized," he said. "Our idea is to help them have hope."

CMS officials say a security officer rode home on the bus this afternoon, to help students feel safe. Extra security will be provided at the bus stop and at Hawthorne High School over the next several days.

A number of police units remain in the area, interviewing residents about what they might have seen or heard. Anyone with information in the case is asked to call Homicide detectives at 704-432-TIPS. Or information can be called to Crime Stoppers,

via www.charlotteobserver.com

Pregnant teen shot dead at bus stop - CharlotteObserver.com

A 15-year-old pregnant high school student was shot and killed Monday morning while standing at a school bus stop near her home in north Charlotte, police say.

The girl's unborn baby was delivered safely at Carolinas Medical Center a few hours after the shooting and is being treated by doctors, police report.

The girl, Tiffany Wright, was 32 weeks pregnant. She was an 11th-grader at Hawthorne High School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials say. Hawthorne offers a special program for pregnant students and those with young babies.

Early Monday afternoon, police told reporters that they believe the shooting was the result of a domestic dispute, and they indicated that they were looking for a suspect.

The shooting happened about 6 a.m. in the 6700 block of Mallard Creek Road, between Sugar Creek Road and W.T. Harris Boulevard. Police said they responded to a report of a shooting and found Wright in the street, shot in the head.

The girl was taken by Medic to CMC, where she died.

WBTV is reporting that the girl's foster mother had walked the girl to the bus stop but had gone back home to get the girl a glass of water. When she returned, WBTV says, she discovered that the girl had been shot.

"A relative heard what sounded like three or four shots," police Chief Rodney Monroe said Monday morning.

Tiffany Wright lived on Walnut Park Drive, off Mallard Park Drive and Mallard Creek Road.

Police closed Mallard Creek Road for several hours and set up a perimeter in the area, looking for a possible suspect or suspects. Mallard Creek Road was reopened late this morning, but police continued searching the area for several hours afterward, even using a helicopter.

Ashelee Barber, who said she was a niece of Tiffany Wright's foster mother, said Tiffany had managed to keep a positive outlook on life, despite having dealt with a number of problems.

"She was just a very sweet girl," said Barber, a college freshman. "I assume she was going through a lot of stuff.

"When people go through tough times, they sometimes develop hateful feelings, but she wasn't that way."

Tracey Pickard, Hawthorne High's principal, said Tiffany Wright came to the school in August as a student in the TAPS program for pregnant students. She said the girl had impressed teachers.

"It was clear that Tiffany was academically strong and off to a good start," Pickard said. She said the girl's teachers told her that Tiffany "was extremely focused."

Fellow students at Hawthorne High School Monday afternoon remembered Wright as a smart, friendly girl who did well in school and was always sweet.

"She always had a smile on her face," said Cameron Blakeney, a sophomore who met her at the movies last summer. "She loved to joke. I'm like, devastated, like a lot of people," Blakeney said. "We're all pretty torn up on the inside."

CMS superintendent Peter Gorman arrived at the school about 1:15 p.m. to make sure district crisis teams were in place and helping, "students who may be in a fragile condition."

Pastor Gregory Moss of St. Paul Baptist Church, near Hawthorne, also came to the school Monday afternoon to offer counsel to any students in need. He said helping young people cope with violence can be difficult in a society that seems saturated with it.

"A lot of these young people have become desensitized," he said. "Our idea is to help them have hope."

A number of police units remain in the area, interviewing residents about what they might have seen or heard. Anyone with information in the case is asked to call Homicide detectives at 704-432-TIPS. Or information can be called to Crime Stoppers,

via www.charlotteobserver.com

If you know anything about who done this please call 704 432-8477(TIPS). I hope God will continue protect this newborn baby as her life hangs for life.