Devalos Perkins’ purgatory behind bars + Lawsuit over fatal police shooting of Danquirs Franklin settled

Andrew Nantais
·2 min read

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1. Purgatory behind bars: He’s spent 11 years in jail — and no one knows if he’s guilty

An illustration shows Devalos Perkins, 37, sitting on a jail bunk. Perkins has been awaiting trial on a murder charge for nearly 11 years.
An illustration shows Devalos Perkins, 37, sitting on a jail bunk. Perkins has been awaiting trial on a murder charge for nearly 11 years.

An investigation by The Charlotte Observer spanning more than a year found shocking insights into a broken system for mentally-ill North Carolinians involved with courts.

Devalos Perkins’ case is among the worst documented in public records. Most of his story has received little public attention. Instead, it lives in a thick pile of manila folders in the court clerk’s office, and in short paragraphs entered into a guard incident log.

Kallie Cox reports on Perkins’ purgatory in jail.

2. City of Charlotte settles Burger King police shooting of Danquirs Franklin for $1.5M

A Superior Court judge authorized the release of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department to release body-worn camera video footage and City of Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) street camera footage of the March 25, 2019, officer-involved shooting incident involving Mr. Danquirs Franklin. The CMPD also released the surveillance video footage captured from inside of the Burger King of the incidents involving Franklin prior to being shot by a CMPD officer in the parking lot.

A lawsuit over the fatal 2019 police shooting of Danquirs Franklin has been settled.

The City of Charlotte agreed to pay $1.5 million in the settlement that preempts a high-profile civil trial that was scheduled to start later this month in Charlotte federal courts.

Mike Gordon has more on the settlement announced earlier today.

3. Repair work continues on Fury 325 roller coaster at Carowinds

Cranes hold up the Fury 325 roller coaster track on Thursday, July 13, 2023. Carowinds is awaiting a new support column to replace a cracked one that was spotted on June 30.
Cranes hold up the Fury 325 roller coaster track on Thursday, July 13, 2023. Carowinds is awaiting a new support column to replace a cracked one that was spotted on June 30.

Repair work continued at Carowinds today on Fury 325.

Cranes held up a portion of the track on the park’s largest roller coaster after the fractured pillar was removed. A new support pillar was expected to be delivered today, according to Carowinds.

Catherine Muccigrosso shares the latest on the repairs.

4. This Charlotte bakery is closing, but won’t be gone for good

Frankie White, owner and operator of BW Sweets Bakery.
Frankie White, owner and operator of BW Sweets Bakery.

BW Sweets Bakery, which was created in 2011, has closed its retail locations, it announced on Instagram.

Frankie White, the owner of the popular Black-owned bakery, announced the launch of a new e-commerce business for delivery services and more.

Chyna Blackmon details what else is next for the bakery.

5. Some more stories to read

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Drew Nantais is a Senior Growth & Engagement Producer for the Charlotte Observer.
Drew Nantais is a Senior Growth & Engagement Producer for the Charlotte Observer.