Charlotte Police Investigate Four Homicides in 24 Hours

UPDATE: The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is reeling from a violent weekend as it investigates four homicides within less than 24 hours, including a fatal shooting at Coyote Joe’s early Sunday morning. The latest incident occurred around 1:25 a.m. in the parking lot of the popular west Charlotte venue, where officers discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene by medical responders.

“This has been a particularly, and tragically, violent weekend in Charlotte with four homicides in less than 24 hours. That’s four victims, that’s four families who are grieving,” stated Major Dave Johnson of the CMPD, highlighting the urgent nature of the investigations.

The disturbing series of events began on Saturday, October 14, when officers responded to a deadly altercation that resulted in blunt force trauma on the 1300 block of Wembley Drive. Just hours later, two separate fatal shootings were reported — one on the 5600 block of North Graham Street and another on the 100 block of Park Fairfax Drive.

Major Johnson emphasized the department’s commitment: “Know that the CMPD is working hard in every one of these cases to bring closure and justice to these families that are hurting and grieving this weekend over senseless, unnecessary violence.”

These latest killings come in the wake of a troubling crime wave in Charlotte, which has seen 15 homicides since the highly publicized murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska earlier this month. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police has called for federal assistance to combat the rising violence, citing alarming statistics of increased homicides in the area.

Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding these cases to contact a CMPD detective at 704-432-8477 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. As the investigations unfold, the community remains on high alert, grappling with the emotional fallout from this unprecedented surge in violence.

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as authorities work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.