The Latest (3/1/22):
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has located the suspect identified in the homicide case of a CATS bus driver that was killed during a road rage incident in February.
Darian Dru Thavychith, 21, was taken into custody in Kansas through a collaborative effort of the CMPD’s Violent Crime Apprehension Team, Homicide, FBI Charlotte, FBI Kansas City, FBI Nashville, Secret Service Charlotte, NC SBI, Nashville Airport Police, Castle Rock Police Department, (Castle Rock, CO) the US Attorney’s Office Western District of North Carolina and the Shawnee Police Department (Shawnee, KS).
According to police, Thavychith is charged with murder and shooting into occupied property in the homicide of Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) bus driver Ethan Rivera on Feb. 11.
The investigation into this case is active and ongoing.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit detective. The public can also leave information anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or http://charlottecrimestoppers.com/.
Original Story (2/15/22):
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — CMPD released photos of a suspect who is accused of shooting and killing a CATS bus driver during a road rage incident, according to homicide detectives.
CMPD says they obtained photo evidence of the alleged shooter who is accused of killing 41-year-old CATS bus driver Ethan Rivera on February 14th around 9:30pm on West Trade Street in Uptown Charlotte. Based on the photos provided, the suspect is described as a man who was last seen driving a black SUV.
Rivera’s family members also spoke during the news conference. Filled with intense emotions, Rivera’s mother, Sylvia, shared the immense pain of losing her son as well as her concerns about his two sons left without a father. The family desperately begged for answers about the incident.
CATS CEO John Lewis honors Rivera by sharing his condolences and reminding the public to remember him not just as a bus driver but as a loving husband, father, and brother. CMPD has ruled Rivera’s death a homicide.
CMPD continues to urge the public to report any information to Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.