Police today arrested and charged two brothers with killing a 27-year-old woman outside a north Charlotte strip club.

Aaron Ashford, 22, and Akeem Ashford, 24, were both charged with murder.

Police say the brothers are responsible for the Thursday morning shooting death of Juquina Harris, a mother of six, who was killed outside the Silver Fox Club on Statesville Avenue. Police believe she was an innocent bystander.

The Violent Criminal Apprehension Team arrested Elijah Ashford without incident at the intersection of Tappan Place and Academy Street. Akeem Ashford was arrested hours later in the 6600 block of Wisteria Drive.

Witnesses to the shooting told police that an argument broke out about 2 a.m. near the strip club's entrance. During the dispute, witnesses said, someone pulled a gun and began firing.

When officers arrived, they found Harris lying in the parking lot. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.

Police say witnesses told them that a green sedan left the club's parking lot moments after the shooting, headed toward uptown on Statesville Avenue. A short time later, police said, staff at Carolinas Medical Center reported that a man driving a green four-door Pontiac had arrived and dropped off a male gunshot victim.

Police weren't able to say whether the male gunshot victim was connected to the club shooting, but at least one person who arrived with him at the hospital was detained.

Several of Harris' relatives gathered outside the club in the predawn hours, as police talked to witnesses and conducted the investigation.

"What are the kids going to do?" asked Angelo Pozo, who said he was related to Harris.

Others said Harris was not the kind of person who would get into arguments.
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The Charlotte Observer contributed to this report.

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