Over the past several months, law enforcement personnel from the Union County Sheriff’s Office and the Monroe Police Department have joined forces to investigate a local street gang accused of numerous violent criminal offenses. These investigations began in late October 2023 when law enforcement personnel were called to investigate four separate shooting incidents that occurred in a two-week period within Union County, specifically Monroe and Wingate.

During each of the four shootings, a group of suspects, consisting primarily of juveniles, would steal a car from a local home and use it to conduct a “drive-by” style shooting. In total, the suspects involved stole four cars then shot multiple rounds into five local homes and one vehicle during the four separate incidents. Thankfully, no one was injured during the shootings, although all the homes were occupied at the time the shootings occurred.

After an extensive investigation conducted by the UCSO and the Monroe Police Department, Sheriff Eddie Cathey and Chief Bryan Gilliard are proud to announce that seven suspects have been identified and charged in connection with these shootings and the various crimes surrounding them. Five of the suspects were identified as juveniles ranging from 15 to 17 years old.

Law enforcement officers investigating these cases obtained secured custody orders through the Department of Juvenile Justice for four of the juvenile offenders, and they remain in custody at a local detention center. A fifth juvenile offender, who is not in custody, also faces numerous criminal charges obtained by investigators via Juvenile Petitions. The two remaining suspects, 22-year-old Jhony Vergara-Torres and 18-year-old Tahaj Moser, were both arrested and have been processed into the Union County Detention Center, where they currently remain.

Investigators have charged each of the seven suspects with multiple counts of various criminal offenses, including but not limited to, Attempted Murder, Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling, Motor Vehicle Theft, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Evidence Tampering, and Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle. Additional charges are likely during this ongoing investigation, and investigators ask that anyone with information pertaining to these cases call 911, the Union County Sheriff’s Office at (704)283-5600, the Monroe Police Department at (704)282-4700, or Union County Crime Stoppers at (704)283-5600. Tips can also be submitted through the free smartphone applications for the UCSO or the Monroe Police Department, which can be found through your phone’s app store.

Sheriff Eddie Cathey adds, “The amount of time and effort these investigators have put into these cases has been astounding, and the successful results speak for themselves. Throughoutthe difficulties the “Raise the Age” legislation has caused, my office remains committed to identifying and apprehending any offender whose violent actions indicate their lack of regard or respect for the lives of others. I encourage anyone with additional information about these investigations to share it with our investigators.”

Monroe Police Chief Bryan Gilliard adds, “Officers and detectives have spent a lot of time, effort, and resources to ensure those responsible for these senseless acts are held accountable. I’m proud of the unrelenting work that has been done by my department and the Union County Sheriff’s Office to put all of these individuals in custody. Because of their excellent work and dedication, our communities are safer.”