Mallard Creek coach identified as victim in fatal shooting in northeast Charlotte
A Mallard Creek High School volunteer coach who was killed in a shooting in northeast Charlotte is remembered by his community as someone who cared, and tried to help students succeed.
Ralph Hammond, 56, died after being shot multiple times shortly before 10 p.m. Friday at a home in the 12000 block of Deaton Hill Drive, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police confirmed Monday. That’s near the Highland Creek area.
Hammond was a “beloved part of the Mallard Creek High School community” as a volunteer coach, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools said in a statement.
“Coach Ralph mentored many student athletes and his legacy will be long-lasting in the Creek community,” CMS said.
“Our volunteer coaches dedicate their valuable time and resources to working with student athletes and we cannot express the depth of our gratitude for the work they do,” district officials said in the statement.
Friends and family took to social media to remember Hammond as a mentor within the community.
Cassandra McDowell grew up with Ralph Hammond in the Eastern North Carolina town of Elizabethtown. He never met someone who felt like a stranger, she said.
McDowell said she never saw Hammond upset, and he was always trying to make sure everyone else was happy.
“He was very protective over me and his sisters,” McDowell said. “Just a big heart, wanted the absolute best for everybody and would go out of his way for anyone, just a genuinely great person.”
Hammond was an Army veteran, and he was invested in his volunteer coaching and making sure every student had opportunities to succeed, McDowell said.
“He would go get them, he would bring them here, he would feed them. He would clothe them if they needed clothing, shoes, cleats, whatever they needed,” sister Debbie Hammond told Charlotte Observer news partner WSOC.
He created a weightlifting program for the Mallard Creek community out of his garage, McDowell said. His family now hopes this can be his legacy.
“He volunteered his services to do that, he didn’t want anything for it. That was just him and how he gave back and was willing to help whomever,” McDowell said.
The Mallard Creek community held a prayer vigil and balloon release Monday at the school’s football field.
Family members at the vigil called for justice, WBTV reported.
“It doesn’t make any sense. They took the coward’s way out,” Debbie Hammond said. “If they had an issue with him they could’ve sat down and had a conversation with him.”
“I just hope that whatever answers we seek we get them soon and whoever is responsible is brought to justice as soon as possible,” Reyona, Hammond’s oldest daughter said.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police have not released information about a suspect or the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
“I want to tell that person that you took a grandfather, a father, a son, a brother, an uncle and a father figure to so many kids,” sister Pamela Hammond told WSOC.
Anyone with information about the shooting can call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a homicide detective. The public can also leave information anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or charlottecrimestoppers.com.
This story was originally published September 26, 2022 at 12:10 PM.
