Two Charlotte brothers are facing attempted murder charges after they allegedly followed a mail carrier along his route in an effort to kill him.
Brothers, Rashawn Donnell Williams and 27-year-old Dion Lamar Williams, of Charlotte, were indicted Thursday by a grand jury in connection with a shooting that left postal worker, Edward McDaniel, seriously injured.
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The brother attempted to kill the mail carrier in southwest Charlotte in August 2017 near the 3600 block of Archer Avenue around 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 31. He was taken to Carolinas Medical Center with life-threatening injuries after the shooting.
The indictment alleges that Dion Williams allegedly tracked McDaniel and then traveled to a local hotel to get a gun, according to the indictment.
The brothers then allegedly caught up with the victim along his route. The indictment claims the brothers “attempted to kill” McDaniel while he was delivering mail to the neighborhood.
The brothers were both charged with conspiracy to murder a federal employee, attempted murder of a federal employee and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. Rashawn Williams was also charged with possessing a firearm as a felon.
Mail carriers are protected federal employees making crimes against them severely enhanced.
David McGinnis, inspector in charge of the Charlotte Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) released the following statement:
“Protecting the employees of the United States Postal Service is a top priority for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. When someone attempts to take the life of one of our employees, we stop at nothing to identify those responsible. We extend our appreciation to all our local, state and federal partners that assisted in the investigation.” source
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information in the case.
In September, a spokesman for the postal service said McDaniel was recovering and faces a long rehab and multiple surgeries.
Rashawn Williams has a prior criminal conviction and is prohibited from possessing a gun, court officials said.
Court officials say the maximum penalty for the charge of conspiracy to murder a federal employee is life in prison. The brothers are in custody and will appear in court on the federal charges, court officials said.