A North Carolina jury has found a Gastonia man guilty of murdering his boyfriend in a chilling case that spanned two cities and left investigators stunned by the disturbing details that followed the killing.
According to reports, Tahj Wall was convicted of first-degree murder on July 10, 2025, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The conviction comes more than four years after the 2021 killing of Curtis Hopper, whose body was later discovered in Charlotte.
Authorities say Hopper was shot twice at a location on South Weldon Street in Gastonia before his body was transported roughly 15 miles away to the Steele Creek area of Charlotte.
But what shocked many during the trial wasn’t just the killing—it was what happened afterward. Prosecutors revealed that Wall allegedly drove around with Hopper’s body for nearly six hours, even showing it to multiple people before police were eventually notified.
The two men were believed to have been in a romantic relationship, though investigators never publicly confirmed a clear motive behind the killing.
During the trial, prosecutors argued the killing was deliberate, describing it as an execution-style shooting. The defense, however, attempted to frame the incident as self-defense, claiming Wall feared for his life during an alleged confrontation.
In addition to the murder charge, Wall initially faced several other charges, including robbery with a dangerous weapon and concealing a death. He was ultimately found not guilty of the robbery charge but still convicted of murder, sealing his fate with a life sentence.
The case, which lingered in the court system for years, has now reached its conclusion—but the disturbing nature of the crime continues to leave a lasting impression on both the Gastonia and Charlotte communities.
