BREAKING: The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is grappling with an alarming surge in violence as they investigate four homicides in less than 24 hours. The latest fatal incident occurred at Coyote Joe’s in west Charlotte early Sunday morning.
At approximately 1:25 a.m., off-duty officers responded to reports of gunfire in the parking lot of Coyote Joe’s, located on the 4600 block of Wilkinson Blvd. Upon arrival, they discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound, who was tragically pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel.
“This has been a particularly, and tragically, violent weekend in Charlotte with four homicides in less than four hours,” stated Major Dave Johnson of CMPD. “That’s four victims, that’s four families who are grieving.”
The violent weekend began on Saturday evening, with the first incident reported around 5 p.m. CMPD confirmed two fatal shootings: one on the 5600 block of North Graham Street and another on the 100 block of Park Fairfax Drive. Earlier on Saturday, officers also responded to a deadly assault involving blunt force trauma on the 1300 block of Wembley Drive.
Major Johnson emphasized CMPD’s commitment to addressing this surge in violence: “Know that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is working hard in every one of these cases to bring closure and justice to these families that are hurting.” His remarks reflect the community’s urgent need for safety amid growing concerns.
This spike in homicides follows a troubling request for federal assistance from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police, made earlier this month. They highlighted a shocking 15 killings in the CMPD’s coverage area since heightened attention on crime began, particularly after the tragic stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on the city’s light rail system.
The police organization, representing 1,690 officers, noted a “triple-digit percentage increase in homicides” in downtown Charlotte, also referred to as Uptown. They have called for help through federal and National Guard support to combat this alarming trend.
Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding these recent incidents to contact a CMPD detective at 704-432-8477 or reach out to Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
As this situation develops, the community is left reeling from these violent acts, highlighting the urgent need for solutions to restore safety in Charlotte. Stay tuned for updates as CMPD continues its investigations.
