17-year-old Halloween party shooting claims promising new mom’s life in Charlotte

In the early hours of Saturday morning in northwest Charlotte, North Carolina, 17-year-old Amari Cooper passed away, cutting short a life filled with promise and ambition. The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on the 6100 block of Old Plank Road, where police say she was one of several people at a Halloween party.

Amari was discovered with a gunshot wound by officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and transported to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased.

Friends and family describe Amari as a devoted new mother, an honors student at West Charlotte High School, and an aspiring entrepreneur who had launched her own hairstyling business. She was only months away from graduation.

According to a family friend, Leondra Garrett, Amari “was at a Halloween party with friends… Although it’s still unclear exactly what happened, right now we believe the shooting was random.”

Amari’s life story:

• She was a new mother, caring for a daughter who was only about two years old.
• At school she was on the honor roll, demonstrating strong academic dedication alongside personal responsibilities.
• Outside the classroom she ran her own hairstyling business and loved dancing, had a vibrant energy, and always carried a positive spirit. Her friend Garrett remembered:
  

  “Beautiful smile, just a happy young lady… you would never hear her say anything negative.”

In response, West Charlotte High School principal Paula Cook said:

“Death can be difficult for us to understand, especially when it is sudden. We may feel a variety of emotions: shock, sadness, or confusion. What is most important is that we care for and support each other.”

The school also announced that on Monday, November 3, students would have a remote learning day to accommodate grief resources and counseling for those impacted.

As the investigation continues, police ask anyone with information about the incident to contact the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department at 704-432-8477 or share details anonymously with Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Family members are now facing the profound challenge of navigating grief not only for Amari’s life lost, but for her daughter and younger sibling who now must grow up without her. Garrett said:

“A young lady whose life was taken for a senseless act of violence. Somebody who made a split decision, for a lifetime of somebody else’s hurt and pain.”

Friends and the local community are in mourning. A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist the family with funeral arrangements and to help stabilize the lives of those left behind.

This tragic incident highlights the devastating ripple effects of gun violence — when one act doesn’t only end a life, but also shatters the hopes, plans, and futures of loved ones and entire communities. Amari was poised to graduate, raise her child, build her business — a young life brimming with possibility. Now, her story serves as a heart-wrenching reminder of what is lost.

If you or someone you know is struggling with grief or trauma in the wake of this or any violent event, please reach out for support — through school counselors, local crisis lines, or community resources.

I’m so sorry for your loss, Amari. Your promise matters, your story matters, and the fact that you were taken too soon must not fade into silence.
#gunviolence #charlottenc