Jessa O'Connor

Assistant Digital News Editor

Jessa O’Connor is the Assistant Editor, Digital News and Engagement for WFAE. She joined the team in 2018 after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned a degree in broadcast journalism and worked for her college radio news station. Jessa won national awards for her college news coverage, including “First Place in Radio” from the Hearst Journalism Awards Program and “Best Radio News Reporting” from the Society of Professional Journalists.

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UNCC Student Drew Pescaro Back In The Hospital Battling Infection

By • May 23, 2019

UNC Charlotte student Drew Pescaro is back in the hospital battling an infection related to injuries he sustained during a deadly campus shooting last month. The 19-year-old from Apex had been discharged from the hospital Monday.

UNCC Shooting Victim Drew Pescaro Takes First Steps Without Walker

By • May 14, 2019

One of the students injured when a gunman opened fire inside a UNC Charlotte classroom last month took his first steps without a walker Monday.

Drew Pescaro, 19, tweeted a 21-second video of the milestone that shows him in a hospital gown, rolling an IV stand as he walks aided by a hospital worker.

Charlotte City Planners Explore Controversial Step Of Eliminating Single-Family Zoning

By • May 12, 2019

Charlotte city planners working to rewrite outdated zoning codes are exploring a controversial and bold idea of eliminating single-family zoning. Leaders are following cues from other cities like Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, which have taken the step in an effort to undo decades of racial segregation and income inequality in housing.

Mooresville Officer Shot, Killed In Line Of Duty

By & • May 5, 2019
Leigh Walther Photography

Updated: 12:15 p.m.

Mooresville Police and the community are mourning the death of 32-year old K-9 officer Jordan Harris Sheldon. Police say Sheldon was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop on West Plaza Drive around 10 p.m. Saturday night. 

Anthropology Professor Gives Account Of Fatal UNC Charlotte Shooting

By • May 2, 2019

The professor of the UNC Charlotte class in which a gunman opened fire, killing two and injuring four others, said in a blog post Thursday that the gunman had been a student in his class. Anthropology professor Adam Johnson said the gunman withdrew from the course early in the semester.

What We Know About The UNC Charlotte Shooting

By • May 2, 2019
Chris Crews / Niner Times

Updated: Monday at 2:30 p.m.

It was the last day of classes for UNC Charlotte students when a shooter opened fire in a classroom building during an anthropology class, killing two students and injuring four others. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have taken over the investigation into the shooting and more details are sure to emerge in the coming days. But here’s what we know:

UNCC Identifies Victims In Campus Shooting

By , , & • May 1, 2019
Chris Crews / Niner Times

Updated: Friday at 2:45 p.m.

Friends and family members remembered the two students killed in Tuesday’s shooting UNC Charlotte – 19-year-old Ellis Reed Parlier of Midland, and 21-year-old Riley Howell of Waynesville.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said Wednesday that Howell charged the shooter in the classroom, helping save lives.

Two Dead, Four Injured, One In Custody In Shooting On UNCC Campus

By , , & & Jennifer Lang • Apr 30, 2019
Jessa O'Connor / WFAE

Updated 12:30 a.m.

A shooting on the campus of the University of North Carolina Charlotte left two people dead and four wounded Tuesday, prompting a lockdown on campus.

CMPD Releases Full 11-Minute Video Of Danquirs Franklin Shooting

By , & • Apr 24, 2019
CMPD

Additional video related to the shooting of Danquirs Franklin shows officer Wende Kerl saying Franklin's gun was in his jacket before he moved his hand to pull the weapon out. Kerl shot him, as Franklin seemed to be holding the gun by the barrel with the butt facing outward and not pointing at the officers. 

CMPD Releases Video From January Officer-Involved Shooting Of Michael Kelley

By • Apr 24, 2019
CMPD

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police released body camera footage Wednesday capturing a fatal officer-involved shooting from January.

What You Need To Know About The 9th District Primary

By • Apr 23, 2019
Pexels

Only Republican candidates will be on the ballot for the primary, which takes place May 14. Candidates for the Democratic, Libertarian and Green parties are already set. Early voting allows eligible voters to cast ballots in person prior to election day.

Town, Transportation Officials Discuss N. Mecklenburg Growing Pains

By • Apr 21, 2019
Daniel Coston

Population has boomed in the Lake Norman area towns of Davidson, Huntersville and Cornelius. In 1990, the three towns had a total population of about 10,000. Nearly 30 years later, the number of residents has grown tenfold – to more than 100,000.

'Danquirs Changed Lives': People Gather To Protest Fatal Shooting, Remember Danquirs Franklin

By & • Apr 15, 2019
Gwendolyn Glenn/ WFAE

Protesters gathered peacefully around Charlotte Monday night in response to the body-cam video CMPD released earlier in the day, capturing the fatal police shooting of 27-year-old Danquirs Franklin.

Body-Cam Video Shows Danquirs Franklin Was Not Pointing Gun At Officers When Shot

By & • Apr 15, 2019
CMPD

Updated: 7:50 p.m.

Video of the fatal police shooting of 27-year-old Danquirs Franklin on March 25 shows that he did have a gun, but it appears it was not pointed at officers or a person next to him.

City Leaders Address Community Ahead Of Body-Cam Release

By & • Apr 15, 2019

Earlier today ahead of the video's release, Mayor Vi Lyles was emotional as she addressed the media Monday morning, ahead of the release of body-cam footage capturing the March 25 fatal shooting of Danquirs Franklin by CMPD Officer Wende Kerl at a Burger King on Beatties Ford Road in west Charlotte

1 Dead, 25 Injured After Explosion That 'Shook' Downtown Durham

By & • Apr 11, 2019

Updated: Thursday at 10:45 a.m.

In Durham Thursday, multiple streets remain closed after a gas explosion rocked the city's downtown Wednesday morning. The explosion reduced a two-story brick building into rubble and sent plumes of smoke billowing over the city.

Bill Requiring NC Sheriffs To Cooperate With ICE, Hold Immigrant Detainees Advances

By • Mar 27, 2019

Backed by North Carolina Republican lawmakers, a bill that would require local sheriff's offices to hold immigrant defendants in county jails is advancing through the General Assembly. The move comes after newly elected sheriffs have come through on campaign promises to sever ties with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Carol Folt Named New University Of Southern California President

By & • Mar 20, 2019

Former UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Carol Folt will become the first female president of the University of Southern California.

Murder Trial Of Rayquan Borum, Death Of Justin Carr Explained

By • Mar 8, 2019

A Mecklenburg jury found Rayquan Borum guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of 26-year-old protester Justin Carr.

Borum also was found guilty of possession of a firearm. He decided not to take the stand in the case.

Jury Finds Rayquan Borum Guilty Of 2nd-Degree Murder In Death Of Justin Carr

By & • Mar 8, 2019

A Mecklenburg County jury found Rayquan Borum guilty of second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon in the shooting death of 26-year-old Justin Carr.

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