A former North Carolina police lieutenant who allegedly told a dying motorcyclist "that's what you get" after shooting him following a high-speed chase has been sentenced to eight to 10 years in prison. Carlos Alverto Uribe, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder for the killing of 21-year-old Camden Childers, a case that highlighted the deadly consequences of excessive force after a suspect had already been incapacitated.
Background
The incident unfolded late on the night of June 26, 2025, beginning with a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 70 for violations including failure to display a registration plate, speeding, and reckless driving. Childers, riding a motorcycle, did not stop, leading to a series of three separate high-speed chases that spanned multiple jurisdictions. The pursuit finally ended on a cul-de-sac on Northern Drive NW in Conover, approximately 45 miles northwest of Charlotte, when Childers’ motorcycle collided with a patrol vehicle.
Prosecutors stated that by the time of the crash, Childers posed little, if any, threat to the officers present. According to courtroom reports and body-worn camera footage, a brief physical altercation followed the collision. Evidence presented during the July 2025 hearing indicated that Childers had already raised his hands in response to commands from an officer other than Uribe. Despite this, Uribe allegedly kicked Childers in the abdomen, knocking him down, and fired a single bullet into his left chest while the victim’s hands remained raised and empty.
The Charges
Uribe, a former lieutenant with the Newton Police Department, was charged with second-degree murder. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) conducted the probe, reviewing body-worn camera footage that contradicted Uribe’s initial claim that Childers had reached for an officer’s gun. Prosecutors argued that the video clearly showed Uribe walking forward, kicking the victim, and firing without justification. In a press release, Catawba County District Attorney Scott Reilly emphasized that fleeing law enforcement does not justify deadly force or diminish the value of a life. Uribe ultimately pleaded guilty, avoiding a jury trial but accepting the severity of the charges.
Key Takeaways
- Carlos Uribe was sentenced to eight to 10 years in state prison by Henderson County Superior Court Judge Athena F. Brooks.
- The victim, 21-year-old Camden Childers, was shot once in the chest after his motorcycle crashed into a patrol vehicle.
- Body-worn camera footage showed Childers had his hands raised and empty when Uribe kicked him and fired the weapon.
- Uribe allegedly stated, "That's what you get for going for an officer's gun," a claim prosecutors disputed as unsupported by video evidence.
- The defense sought extraordinary mitigation to avoid active imprisonment, but the court rejected the request.
- District Attorney Scott Reilly noted that in 15 similar incidents reviewed, force was justified, but this case crossed the line into unlawful excessive force.
What's Next
Uribe will begin serving his sentence at a North Carolina Department of Adult Correction facility. The victim's family has expressed relief at the sentencing but continues to advocate for stricter accountability measures for law enforcement officers involved in fatal use-of-force incidents. No further appeals are currently expected given the guilty plea.