Suspect dies at hospital, injured CMPD officer recovering after shooting during traffic stop

CHARLOTTE ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — A suspect shot by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police has died in the hospital and an injured officer who was struck multiple times in the line of duty is now home recovering following a shooting during a traffic stop Sunday night.

The suspect in this incident, identified as Nelson Javier Funez Reyes, 37, died from his injuries on Tuesday, Sept. 24, CMPD said. His family has been notified of his death.

Authorities said CMPD Officer Kenneth Kludy was released from the hospital this week and is now home recovering from his injuries. In addition to Officer Kludy, Officer Joshua Heater also fired his service weapon Sunday night during the incident, CMPD announced.

CMPD Officer Kludy was hired by the department on Feb. 24, 2020, and CMPD Officer Heater was hired on Oct. 26, 2020. Both have been placed on administrative leave, as protocol.

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The officer-involved shooting happened just before 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, in the 200 block of E. Arrowood Road. CMPD said officers tried to pull a vehicle over in the area that they believed was connected to an assault with a deadly weapon incident.

As CMPD officers attempted to pull this vehicle over, they said Reyes pulled out a handgun and began firing at officers, prompting Officer Kludy and Officer Heater to fire back.

Officer Kludy was struck multiple times and rushed to the hospital with serious injuries at that time. Another officer was also transported to the hospital Sunday as a precaution.

A firearm was recovered from the crime scene on Sunday, authorities said. CMPD’s Homicide Unit is the lead in this active and ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS.

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