Authorities have dropped murder charges against 34-year-old Alvin Alexander, accused in the Aug. 12 shooting of a 2-year-old boy during a confrontation between adults.

Based on new leads, police now believe that Ellis Eugene Royster (photo), 23, is responsible for the child’s death. Royster was arrested Tuesday night and charged with murder.

The victim, Amias Bernard Robinson, died four days after he was struck by a bullet while sitting in a stroller in the 5800 block of Eastbrook Road, in the Hampshire Hills neighborhood between The Plaza and Old Concord Road. The child had just celebrated his second birthday.

A male witness initially told police that Alexander fired the shot that killed Amias. In addition, two female witnesses told police they saw Alexander running from the scene immediately after the shooting.

In a statement released today, police said the male witness has since recanted his story and fingered Royster as the shooter. Subsequent interviews with another witness also pointed to a suspect other than Alexander.

The decision to drop charges against Alexander was made jointly by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the Mecklenburg district attorney’s office.

Royster was arrested by the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team last Tuesday night without incident at his residence on Eastbrook Road. Records show that he had been arrested in
Mecklenburg three times previously since 2004.
 

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