CHARLOTTE — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officials are offering a $10,000 reward for information regarding a series of random shootings early Tuesday morning that they believe are connected.
This announcement came during a news conference Tuesday afternoon after four deadly shootings that happened in 24 hours.
Police believe one of those deadly shootings is connected to others that happened between 1 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.
On Tuesday shortly after 1 a.m., CMPD found a 58-year-old man shot in a car as he passed by on Statesville Avenue. He died at the scene.
“We believe that that homicide was the start of a shooting series,” said Dep. Chief Tonya Arrington.
At about 1:09 a.m., someone shot at a bicyclist near the intersection of Newland Road and LaSalle Street. Just after that, officers found a victim who said his vehicle was shot while he was driving on LaSalle Street near Interstate 77. Neither of those victims were hurt.
At about 1:11 a.m., someone in a vehicle shot at a group in the 2100 block of Catherine Simmons Avenue. Rounds were also shot into an apartment, hitting a female, CMPD said. She was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Then at about 1:25 a.m., a gunman shot a bicyclist riding on Nations Ford Road in southwest Charlotte. The victim had non-life-threatening injuries. A round struck an apartment building on Kingsford Drive, as well.
“Timeframe, we’re talking about 30 minutes,” Arrington said. “That’s a short timeframe to have that many shootings to include a homicide.”
Arrington said there is likely a connection since the victims were shot from moving vehicles.
“I won’t go into detail, but the evidence collected on scene has linked these cases together,” she said.
That led investigators to believe the shooting spree was random.
“That’s what it appears like, at this time, we have not been able to link any of the victims together,” Arrington said.
CMPD has a robust action plan, which includes increased patrols.
People should be vigilant, she added.
“If you don’t have to be out in the middle of the night, maybe skip that until we can get this resolved,” Arrington said.
>> Crime Stoppers is offering up to $10,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest in this investigation.
CMPD said, “If you live in the area of the incidents and you believe you were shot at and/or your property was struck by gunfire please call 911. Residents can also call 704-432-TIPS and ask to speak directly to a Homicide Unit detective.”
There were also other deadly shootings Monday that detectives responded to. These don’t appear to be connected.
Rea Road homicide
A man was found shot to death Monday morning near an abandoned car with its blinkers on in the right-hand lane of Rea Road, outside the Piper Glen Estates neighborhood, just north of Interstate 485.
MORE RELATED COVERAGE:
- Arrest made in deadly north Charlotte shooting, warrant shows
- 1 killed, 3 hurt in west Charlotte shooting, CMPD says
- 1 dead following shooting in north Charlotte, CMPD says
The victim was identified as 36-year-old Derrick Byas. A suspect has not been identified.
Cinnabay Drive homicide
In the Braemar neighborhood, police charged a man with killing his stepson in a domestic-violence-related incident.
At about 5:30 p.m., neighbors said they heard arguing from inside a home on Cinnabay Drive then about 15 minutes later, there were two gunshots.
Police said 62-year-old Luis Gonzalez shot his 37-year-old stepson, Daniel Gomez.
Gonzalez claimed Gomez put his hand on his throat and had assaulted him in the past.
He was charged with voluntary manslaughter.
Parker Drive homicide
Four people were shot in what appears to be a shootout during a drug deal at about 8:45 p.m. on Parker Drive in west Charlotte.
Lamarcus Jackson, 29, died from his injuries. The three others had non-life-threatening injuries.
University City homicide
There was a homicide in University City that happened Tuesday less than an hour after CMPD held its news conference. One person died at Atrium Health University.
There has not been more information released.
VIDEO: Arrest made in deadly north Charlotte shooting, warrant shows
©2024 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
