Javier Lee Martinez Hernandez Obituary, Death; – Authorities have executed a second arrest related to the shooting of a 23-year-old man that occurred in April, just outside a Charlotte bar, which has since had its alcohol permits suspended following numerous 911 calls and violations of after-hours regulations.
On Tuesday, August 5, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police apprehended 20-year-old Noel Alexander Vasquez Mercado in connection with the death of Javier Lee Martinez Hernandez. He is now facing a charge of first-degree murder. This marks the second arrest in this case.
The initial suspect, identified as Jefry Edgardo Gonzalez Artica, aged 22, was arrested in late June out of state in Louisiana, with assistance from federal and local law enforcement agencies. He is also charged with first-degree murder.
The incident occurred on April 13 outside Mi Cabana, a bar situated along Eastway Drive in northeast Charlotte. Officers responded to an assault report around 6 a.m. and discovered Hernandez suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was declared dead at the scene.
Mi Cabana, the bar where the shooting took place, had already attracted significant attention from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. Months following the fatal incident, the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Commission indefinitely suspended its alcohol permits.
Authorities reported that since July 2023, there had been 28 police calls to the establishment, encompassing incidents of robbery, assault, weapon violations, and the murder of Hernandez.
Investigators determined that alcohol was still being served at Mi Cabana well beyond legal hours, even until 4 a.m. on the morning of Hernandez’s death. Red plastic cups found on the premises tested positive for alcohol, and video surveillance corroborated the timeline, according to police.
The bar’s manager reportedly acknowledged awareness of the laws but continued to serve alcohol after 2 a.m. because, as she stated, she “makes more money selling after hours.”
The CMPD characterized Mi Cabana as a significant drain on law enforcement resources, indicating that officers were often required to call for backup when responding to incidents at the location due to its problematic history.
