A convicted killer is accused of shooting two men, killing one, less than two hours after being released from a North Carolina jail on bond. The incident has raised questions about why the repeat violent offender was free in the first place. David Simpson, 29, is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and other crimes related to the July 29 shooting at an east Charlotte apartment complex. A judge has ordered that he be held without bond.
Simpson was released from the Mecklenburg County Jail after posting a $10,000 bond on an unrelated charge. Police said the shooting happened less than two hours later, around 1:45 a.m., leaving one man dead and another seriously wounded. The shooting followed a long-running dispute over a parking space outside the apartment complex, with officers having already been called to the property twice that night.
Surveillance video appears to show Simpson outside with his girlfriend when the victims' SUV drove past. He then went inside, returned carrying a weighted black bag, and ran toward the victims. About 10 minutes later, two gunshots can be heard on the video, and Simpson is seen jogging back toward his apartment before driving away. Officers recovered two spent 7.62-caliber rifle casings at the scene.
One victim died at the scene, while the second made it inside an apartment before collapsing and later underwent surgery. Simpson has a history of violent crime, having been previously charged with first-degree murder in a 2013 fatal shooting. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in 2015 and served about five years in prison before being released on parole in 2020.
Since his release, Simpson has been arrested several more times, including on multiple charges of possession of a firearm by a felon. He also had pending charges this year for possession of a firearm by a felon, resisting a public officer, and misdemeanor larceny. Critics are questioning why Simpson remained free despite his history, with one defense attorney noting that Simpson has been involved in a violent crime almost every year.
Former city officials are also speaking out, criticizing the system for not taking action against repeat offenders. Simpson refused to leave his jail cell for his first scheduled court appearance, delaying the hearing until a judge ordered him to appear later that afternoon. His girlfriend has also been charged with accessory after the fact, and Simpson is due back in court on August 21.
