UPDATE: The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is grappling with a shocking surge in violence, reporting four homicides in less than 24 hours. The latest incident occurred early Sunday morning at Coyote Joe’s, a popular venue in west Charlotte, where a man was fatally shot in the parking lot.
Off-duty officers responded to the sound of gunfire around 1:25 a.m. and discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead at the scene. This tragic shooting adds to a grim tally that has left the community in shock.
“This has been a particularly, and tragically, violent weekend in Charlotte with four homicides in less than four hours,” stated Major Dave Johnson of the CMPD. “That’s four victims, that’s four families who are grieving.”
The violent spree began on Saturday around 5 p.m., with two separate fatal shootings reported. One occurred on the 5600 block of North Graham Street, while the other was on the 100 block of Park Fairfax Drive. Earlier that day, authorities responded to a deadly assault involving blunt force trauma on the 1300 block of Wembley Drive.
The spike in violence comes on the heels of a letter from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police, which requested federal assistance to combat rising crime in the city. As of early October, there had been 15 killings in the CMPD coverage area since the attention surrounding the murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on the light rail system.
“This community is hurting over senseless, unnecessary violence,” Johnson added. “We won’t rest and we won’t stop until we find justice for these families and these victims.”
Authorities are urging anyone with information related to these cases to come forward. You can contact a CMPD detective at 704-432-8477 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
As the investigation continues, residents are left to grapple with the emotional aftermath of these tragic events. The CMPD is working tirelessly to restore safety and security to the community as they face this disturbing wave of violence. Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
