Cold Case Breakthrough in Charlotte | Charlotte News

After 25 years, a cold case homicide in Charlotte finally gets justice: Alan Marquis Phifer, 43, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and robbery in the 2001 killing of 21-year-old Cesar Gudino Gonzalez. The brutal scene on North Sharon-Amity Road left multiple victims injured, with Gonzalez pronounced dead at the scene. The case went cold until January 2026, when the Cold Case Unit revived it — leading to a breakthrough in February after a key lab report pointed squarely at Phifer. Police secured arrest warrants last week, and the violent criminal apprehension team made the arrest Monday. For the victim’s family, this is a long-awaited step toward closure — a powerful reminder that persistence can solve even the oldest crimes. The investigation remains open as detectives continue to piece together every detail. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/17dad97dde4bba88