By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A Salisbury woman remains in the county jail, charged in connection to the Dec. 4 shooting at Firewater Restaurant and Lounge where Sharod R. Mathis was shot and killed.

Salisbury Police say Savannah Maria Queen, 21, failed to provide investigators with information connected to the deadly shooting.

Officials also have confirmed the shooting at the Avalon Drive restaurant is also connected to the shooting at 200 Harrel St. where A’yanna Allen, 7, was shot and killed while asleep in her bedroom. Her 56-year-old grandmother, Shirley Robinson, was also asleep in that same bedroom and was shot in the leg.

Queen, of the 400 block of West 15th Street, was charged with felony obstruction of justice.

Police Capt. Shelia Lingle would not confirm Queen’s connection to the incident or any connection to persons involved in the incident. When asked if any Crime Stoppers tips led investigators to Queen, Lingle said detectives were led to Queen through the investigation.

The Post obtained an arrest warrant that does explain the charges in the case. According to the warrant, Queen denied on multiple occasions to law enforcement officers that she observed a firearm on the ground at Firewater following the shooting that occurred there.

The warrant goes on to say Queen not only saw the firearm, but removed a firearm from the crime scene, which “prevents, obstructs, impedes, or hinders public or legal justice.”

The warrant was served Friday, which was five days after the Sunday morning shooting.

Police officials have said an argument ensued before Mathis, 22, was shot just after 1 a.m. outside the restaurant in the parking lot. He was taken to the hospital by a private vehicle and later died. Police investigators recovered that vehicle, a gray Chevrolet Impala, Monday morning.

Lingle said the vehicle was found in a wooded area on Long Bow Road. Police officials had the vehicle towed to the Salisbury Police Department just after 12 p.m. Monday.

Investigators have said a few hours after Mathis was shot outside the restaurant, shortly after 4 a.m. on Sunday, someone shot into the Harrel Street home, including the bedroom window where A’yanna Allen and her grandmother slept.

Family, friends, classmates, teachers and other mourners attended a packed funeral Sunday for the 7-year-old at the church she attended, Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church. Funeral arrangements are incomplete for Sharod Mathis.

Queen is scheduled for a first court appearance Tuesday morning. She has no known convictions or criminal record. Queen has a pending traffic infraction in Cabarrus County. She remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $25,000 secured bond.

Rowan County commissioners and Salisbury City officials have jointly offered a $20,000 reward through Crime Stoppers for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the death A’yanna Allen.

Local business owners have also donated funds and collected contributions for the Allen family.

This shooting has prompted both the Salisbury Police and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office to combine forces to help solve the murder of A’yanna Allen. Sheriff’s deputies can now work overtime to assist police officers on the street.

Anyone with information in these cases is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245, Salisbury Police at 704-638-5333 or the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office at 704-216-8700. Tips can be made anonymously.