UPDATE: The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is investigating a shocking surge in violence, reporting four homicides in less than 24 hours. The latest fatal shooting occurred at Coyote Joe’s in west Charlotte early Sunday morning.
At approximately 1:25 a.m., off-duty officers responded to gunfire in the parking lot of Coyote Joe’s, where they discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound. Tragically, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
“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,”
said Major Dave Johnson of the CMPD.
The violence began early Saturday, with two fatal shootings reported by 5 p.m.. One incident occurred on the 5600 block of North Graham Street in northeast Charlotte, while the other took place on the 100 block of Park Fairfax Drive in west Charlotte. Earlier, officers were called to the 1300 block of Wembley Drive for a deadly assault involving blunt force trauma.
Officials describe the weekend as “senseless” and “unnecessary,” with grieving families left in the wake of these tragic events. Major Johnson emphasized that the CMPD is committed to bringing justice to the victims and their families. “We won’t rest and we won’t stop until we find justice for these families and these victims,” he stated.
These four killings follow a recent request from the Fraternal Order of Police for federal assistance in combating rising crime rates in the city. In a letter dated October 2, the organization highlighted a disturbing increase in homicides, notably following the tragic death of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was killed on the city’s light rail.
Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding these incidents to contact a CMPD detective at 704-432-8477 or reach out to Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
The situation remains fluid as the police continue their investigations into these violent acts. Residents are advised to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
