HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION Mazeppa Park

MOORESVILLE, NC – On December 29, 2025, at approximately 8:29 p.m., Mooresville Police

Department responded to Mazeppa Park regarding a reported shooting. When officers arrived at

the park, they found two juveniles had been shot. One victim was pronounced dead by Iredell

EMS, and the second victim was transported to Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital with a

gunshot wound.    

After further investigation, it was determined that the shooting was part of an attempted armed

robbery for THC vape pens. The suspects arranged a meeting at Mazeppa Park under the premise

of purchasing THC vape pens. Shots were fired by both parties during the robbery, and one party

left the park in a vehicle prior to officers arriving. The vehicle that left the park was located by

Statesville Police Department officers shortly after the shooting.  

Bryan Fernandez Acevedo, 19, of Statesville; Jovany Jiminez, 17, of Statesville; Jonathan

Jiminez, 17, of Statesville; Christopher Chacon Ventura, 16, of Statesville; and Christopher

Palencia Lazo, 16, of Statesville have been charged as adults with murder, robbery with a

dangerous weapon, and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon. One other

juvenile has also been charged with the same crimes and will be named after arrest. 

Two other adults, Carlos Ezequiel Rodriguez Garcia, 19, of Statesville and Christian Alexis

Gutierrez Chavez, 20, of Statesville have been charged with assault with a deadly weapon with

intent to kill.    

The case is under active investigation at this time, and any additional information will be

released when available. The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office also assisted in this investigation.

Mazeppa Park is currently closed.