Charlotte, N.C. — Six years after the death of Kendal Crank, a Charlotte mother fatally shot while driving to her nursing school, the trial of one of the accused has commenced. Crank, who was 26 at the time of her death, tragically lost her life during a shootout in March 2019 that prosecutors claim she was inadvertently caught in while at a traffic light.
Crank was in her vehicle, a red Kia, stopped at a traffic signal in north Charlotte during rush hour when the shooting occurred. Surveillance footage from the scene shows a typical city backdrop quickly descending into chaos after the shooting starts. According to the prosecution, Adonis Smith, who was in a black SUV located behind Crank’s car, is one of three men implicated in her murder.
The unsettling videos, which were shown in court, captured a school bus passing by merely minutes before the eruption of gunfire along West 28th Street. Moments later, as the light turned green and Crank’s vehicle began to move forward, multiple gunshots were exchanged between people in the area, resulting in Crank being hit in the head, and her car eventually coasting to a halt beside a fence.
In a twist to the narrative, the defense highlighted an additional surveillance angle during the hearing, focusing particularly on a nearby strip mall’s parking lot. They contend that it was from this location that two men initially fired shots at Smith, who was then in the black SUV. The defense argues that Smith returned fire in self-defense, with one of the bullets tragically striking Crank.
This distressing incident led to the immediate aftermath where another camera captured the suspect’s vehicle speeding off toward Uptown on North Tryon Street, while bystanders scattered in panic.
Adding to the ongoing trial, testimonies are anticipated from several witnesses, including Crank’s best friend, who was driving directly in front of her when the shootout occurred. The friend’s account is expected to provide critical insights into the sequence of events leading to Crank’s untimely death.
As the trial progresses at the Charlotte courthouse, the role of the surveillance video is proving central in piecing together the tragic circumstances that led to the death of the young mother, who was aspiring to become a nurse. The court is scheduled to continue reviewing evidence and hearing testimonies as they work to determine the culpability of Smith and his co-accused in this heart-wrenching case.
The community continues to watch closely as the proceedings unfold, hoping for justice in the tragic loss of Crank, a young mother whose life was abruptly and tragically cut short. The trial is set to resume on Tuesday, with more details and possible developments anticipated.