Charlotte Mecklenburg Police say they plan to bring murder charges against the girlfriend of a man already accused in the shooting deaths of his parents in east Charlotte Sunday. The pair also face kidnapping charges after fleeing to Washington, D.C., with the man's 11-year-old niece.
Twenty-six-year-old Nikkia Cooper was arrested in Washington Sunday night along with her boyfriend, Curtis Atkinson Jr., and the girl, Arieyana Forney. They were caught following a brief chase after a woman, whom police now say was Cooper, called 911.
Curtis Atkinson Jr. has been charged with murdering Ruby Atkinson, 52, and Curtis Atkinson Sr., 63, at their home on Glencannon Drive. CMPD Maj. Cameron Selvey says Cooper will be charged as well.
"What I can tell you is she has been charged with kidnapping and there are forthcoming charges for two counts of murder. So … I think you can kind of read between the lines and see there was an active role there," Selvey said.
Police are waiting for Atkinson and Cooper to be extradited from Washington to North Carolina. Meanwhile, Arieyana Forney was not hurt in the incident. She is returning to Charlotte in the custody of Mecklenburg County Child Protective Services.
Police also have made an arrest in the murder of a 25-year-old man in east Charlotte Saturday afternoon. CMPD says James Russell Andrews will be charged with murder in the death of Jarel D'Shaun Grace. A spokesman says the two men knew each other. Police said over the weekend the shooting came during a robbery.
