A North Carolina family is pleading [1] with judges to keep an accused repeat offender behind bars, warning that another release could end in tragedy.
Their appeal comes after police accused the man of attacking strangers, recording the violence, and posting the footage online.
The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department identified the suspect as 32-year-old Di Quan Schafar Hunt.
Police arrested Hunt on Thursday following the reported assault of a woman, adding another disturbing chapter to an already lengthy criminal record.
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Hunt’s relatives reportedly contacted law enforcement twice during the week leading up to his arrest.
His sister told WSOC that Hunt had previously become violent with both her and their mother, including striking them.
The latest arrest followed what police described as a violent assault on a woman.
When officers arrived, they were shown a social media account containing several videos that investigators said they already knew about and were examining.
Authorities said one recording appeared to show an assault that was reported on July 30.
Hunt allegedly punched a woman who was walking on a sidewalk, leaving her with serious injuries that police said were not considered life threatening.
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The woman was transported to a hospital for treatment, according to investigators.
Her identity was not released, but the alleged attack resulted in Hunt being charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
The accusations would be alarming enough on their own, but Hunt’s history raises the stakes considerably.
Online records from the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office show at least nine previous arrests involving allegations ranging from probation violations to assault with a deadly weapon.
Hunt remained in custody at the sheriff’s office following his latest arrest.
His family now fears that the familiar revolving door will start spinning again, returning him to the public without treatment, medication, or meaningful supervision.
His sister, who requested anonymity, said the family has received threats because of Hunt’s behavior.
She worries that his violence could escalate until he kills someone or someone responds by killing him.
“Please help us. How can we get my brother in an institution? How can we get him medicated?” she told WSOC.
Her questions capture the frustration of a family that says it has repeatedly sought intervention, only to watch Hunt return to the streets.
The sister described Hunt as deeply impaired and unable to function safely without serious treatment.
“He’s empty. He’s broken. He’s stalled,” she said, according to the television station.
She also described several reported mental health diagnoses, although those claims were not independently confirmed by police.
“From what I know, his diagnoses are paranoid schizophrenia, PTSD, and bipolar disorder.”
According to his sister, Hunt’s behavior changed dramatically and eventually became violent.
“He completely just flipped,” she said while describing an episode that forced the family to call police.
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The case presents officials with a public safety question that cannot be brushed aside with paperwork and another court date.
A man accused of filming random violence, with a record of repeated arrests and relatives openly warning of danger, is not an ordinary release decision.
The family is not asking authorities to pretend the alleged violence never happened.
They are asking the justice system to recognize the obvious risk and place Hunt somewhere that can protect both the public and Hunt himself.
For residents watching another repeat offender case unfold, the demand is painfully simple. Judges and local officials must take the warnings seriously before another victim is injured, or before the next call brings news that cannot be undone.