Charlotte Police Investigate Four Homicides in 24 Hours

URGENT UPDATE: The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is investigating a shocking surge of violence as four homicides have occurred within less than 24 hours in Charlotte, North Carolina. The latest incident took place early Sunday morning at 1:25 a.m. in the parking lot of Coyote Joe’s, where a man was fatally shot.

According to officials, off-duty officers heard gunfire in the parking lot located on Wilkinson Blvd and found a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead at the scene. This tragic event marks the fourth homicide in a violent weekend that has left the community in shock and mourning.

“This has been a particularly, and tragically, violent weekend in Charlotte with four homicides in less than four hours. That’s four victims, that’s four families who are grieving,” stated Major Dave Johnson of CMPD.

The sequence of violence began on Saturday, October 7, 2023, when officers responded to two fatal shootings, one at the 5600 block of North Graham Street and another at the 100 block of Park Fairfax Drive. Earlier that day, CMPD also investigated a fatal assault involving blunt force trauma on the 1300 block of Wembley Drive.

The recent killings are particularly alarming as they come after a letter from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police, sent on October 2, requesting federal assistance to address escalating crime rates in the city. The letter highlighted a troubling trend, noting a significant rise in homicides, particularly in the wake of the shocking murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on the light rail system.

CMPD is actively pursuing leads in these cases and urges anyone with information to contact a detective at 704-432-8477 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

As the investigation unfolds, the community is left grappling with the aftermath of this weekend’s violence, raising urgent questions about public safety in Charlotte. The police department reassures residents that they are committed to bringing justice to the grieving families affected by this senseless violence.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as authorities work tirelessly to resolve these tragic incidents and restore peace to the community.