Mugshot of Ballinger at his arrest in 2021. Photo courtesy of Mecklenburg County Jail.
CHARLOTTE (Queen City News) — A former employee of Charlotte's Fish House North has been sentenced to more than 34 years in prison for robbing the store and shooting three employees in 2021, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
On Monday, June 17, 49-year-old Robert Lee Ballinger was sentenced to 412 months in prison, followed by five years of probation, for armed robbery of a store.
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This violent incident occurred at approximately 10:15 pm on Monday, July 26, 2021 at Fish House North, located at 4554 N. Tryon Street. When CMPD officers arrived to the scene of the robbery and shooting, they found three employees inside the store suffering from gunshot wounds.
Three people were taken to hospital with minor injuries, police said.
After shooting the victims, Ballinger ordered one victim to hand over the cash register key and forced the other victim to open the register, then reportedly stole $3,500 from the store and fled the scene.
On July 28, 2021, Ballinger was spotted at a Charlotte hotel and arrested.
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According to authorities, on Aug. 5, 2022, Ballinger was convicted of disrupting commerce by burglary and using, carrying and possessing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
He has a lengthy federal and state criminal history, including charges of assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Authorities said Ballinger will remain in federal custody pending designation of a federal facility by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
