The man who killed a popular chef in Plaza Midwood crash is headed to prison

The man who killed a popular Charlotte chef in a Plaza Midwood crash last year was sentenced to eight years in prison Thursday.

Kendall Ross was a well-known executive chef by the time he was 29. He had manned kitchens far from his home on Central Avenue, serving the Masters Tournament and touring singers Ed Sheeran and Rod Stewart. In uptown, he helped open Angeline’s.

On March 18, 2023, he died after Alejandro Chavez-Gomez, 23, merged into Central Avenue’s left lane near Briar Creek Road. Chavez-Gomez’ Nissan pushed Ross’ Hyundai off the road. It spun out and wedged into a pole, according to police reports.

Ross died at the scene. His wife, Lily Hennes, a former third-grade teacher , suffered life-threatening injuries.

The two were newlyweds settling into their first home before the crash, according to a Fundly page made to raise money for her medical bills and Ross’ funeral.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department detectives found Chavez-Gomez to be impaired when he struck the couple’s car, according to a news release from Mecklenburg District Attorney Spencer Merriweather.

Chavez-Gomez, in Mecklenburg County Superior Court on Thursday, pleaded guilty to felony death by vehicle and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

Superior Court Judge Reggie McKnight sentenced him to 70 to 96 months for the first charge and 26 to 44 months for the latter.