A Day Meant for Joy Turns to Chaos
August 9 was supposed to be a day of laughter, learning, and community connection at Charlotte’s 11th Annual Back-to-School Health Fair. Families gathered for free school supplies, health services, and a safe, supportive environment for their children. But just as the event reached its peak, two sharp cracks tore through the air, silencing the music and scattering the crowd.
Police say 34-year-old Cherez Montique Davis pulled a Taurus G6 handgun from her backpack and fired two shots into the air in an attempt to stop a fight between her son and another boy. What began as a heated dispute between children quickly escalated into a moment of terror for the more than 100 parents and kids in attendance.
Fear in the Eyes of Children
The moment the shots rang out, the atmosphere shifted from joy to sheer panic. Witnesses recall children screaming, some clinging to their parents, while others bolted in every direction. Some ran into the street without looking; others hid in hallways and behind tables inside the health center. The place that had been buzzing with energy moments earlier was suddenly a scene of confusion and fear.
Parents at the event described the horrifying seconds when they didn’t know if more shots were coming—or if their children were safe. Volunteers who had been handing out backpacks moments earlier were now guiding families to exits or trying to reunite separated children with their parents. Though no one was injured, the emotional scars left on those young minds may take much longer to heal.
Relief That No Lives Were Lost, But Questions Remain
Davis was arrested soon after the incident, facing charges of carrying a concealed weapon and going armed to the terror of the public. While the community is relieved that no one was physically hurt, the incident has sparked serious questions about safety at public events, the choices adults make in moments of anger, and how quickly a celebration can turn to disaster.
In the aftermath, organizers of the Back-to-School Health Fair expressed heartbreak that a day meant to uplift families ended in fear. Community leaders are calling for healing, conversations about conflict resolution, and renewed commitments to making public spaces truly safe. For those who were there, the sound of those two shots will be hard to forget—but so will the courage of the parents, volunteers, and children who acted quickly to protect one another.
