CHARLOTTE – Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said they had arrested two men who are alleged to have killed two transgender women in the past two weeks.
Police have charged Dontarius Long, 21, and Joel Brewer, 33, with the murders of Jaida Peterson, 29, and Remy Fennell. CMPD boss Johnny Jennings described the two men as very dangerous.
Here are the names of the victims and suspects in this case: Dontarius Long, born 9/5/1999, and Joel Brewer, born 5/25/1987, were arrested for the murders of Jaida Peterson and Remy Fennell. @wsoctv
– Tina Terry (@ TinaTerryWSOC9) April 16, 2021
Officers said Peterson was killed on Easter Sunday. She was found fatally shot at the Quality Inn hotel on Queen City Drive in West Charlotte.
“She was someone. She was a person. She was my child, ”said Mary Peterson.
Detectives said Fennell, who was also a sex worker, was shot and killed Thursday morning at the Sleep Inn on North Tryon Street near East WT Harris Boulevard.
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Police said the CMPD Violent Prosecution Team, Union County Sheriff’s Office, and Marshville Police Department arrested Brewer and Long Friday morning. Investigators believe the men traveled together from Union County and murdered Peterson and Fennell.
Police believe they are the only two suspects and that there is no other risk to the public.
“As I told her before I put her in the ground, I don’t care if it takes every breath inside my body. I said, ‘I’ll be righteous,” said Mary Peterson. Jaida Peterson’s funeral took place this week.
The VCAT and Union County Sheriff’s office made the arrests this morning. They say that both men are responsible for these murders. @wsoctv
– Tina Terry (@ TinaTerryWSOC9) April 16, 2021
Brewer is charged with two homicide cases, two gun possession counts by a convicted criminal, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy to robbery with a dangerous weapon. Long is charged with murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Authorities said they are still investigating the motive of the murders and are working with the FBI to see if hate crime charges should be brought.
“It just made my heart sad. They are human too. You deserve to be loved as much as the next person, ”said Mary Peterson. “In order for a baby to kill them, they didn’t have to do that.”
On Thursday, authorities urged the community to be on alert after reporting that the killings occurred just 11 days apart. Police were concerned that someone was targeting transgender women.
CMPD urged members of the LGBTQ community who “do sex work to be extremely careful” and call 911 to report any suspicious things.
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“This is a very critical time right now,” said CMPD spokesman Rob Tufano on Thursday. “There is probably never a more vulnerable time for them than tonight – until that person, these people, whoever is responsible for these cases, is arrested.”
Channel 9 spoke to a friend of Peterson’s on Thursday.
“Jaida treated everyone with kindness and respect,” said Peacock.
“Jaida had her fears of society and what society might do, but she trusted in the Lord.”
Jaida Peterson’s friends fear that someone killed her because she is transgender.
Continue tonight @wsoctv at 11 a.m .: Police are investigating the murders of two trans women in 11 days. pic.twitter.com/mrZkGpK0Hv
– Genevieve Curtis (@ GenevieveWSOC9) April 16, 2021
Violence against transgender women is widespread, which Peacock is familiar with.
“Jaida had her fears of society and what society might do, but one thing about Jaida is that Jaida trusted in the Lord for everything she did,” Peacock said.
Charlotte Pride’s Matt Comer said the response from organizations and executives has been immediate to ensure people are protected.
“Please stay vigilant,” said Comer. “Check in with your friends and family.”
Investigators said they are also looking for more victims and asking them to call 911.
“We are working to see if something can be linked to these cases,” said Tufano. “If there could be something bigger here.”
