July 12. A 27-year-old Charlotte woman who drowned in Lake Norman Sunday June 12 was a attempting to retrieve her hat, which had blown overboard, according to Cornelius police. The victim was identified as Shakira Varner, and the drowning happened off of Island Forest Drive. Cornelius police say Varner and another woman were on a private dock when Varner, who was not wearing a life vest, went into the lake and did not resurface, police said.