Four people killed in three days in separate Charlotte shootings. What to know.
The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department said it’s investigating four separate shooting deaths, the first of which was Tuesday.
So far in 2024, there have been 14 homicides in Charlotte, surpassing the 13 homicides the city saw at the same point in time in 2023. CMPD spokesperson Michael Allinger said, Charlotte experienced a total of 95 homicides last year.
Between Tuesday and Thursday, three men and a woman were killed.
Here’s what to know about these four ongoing investigations:
Shooting death near apartment at Camden Creek Lane
In the release, CMPD said it responded to a medic call for service at the 8800 block of Camden Creek Lane.
When officers arrived, they found Michael Burroughs, 39, with a gunshot wound and unresponsive near an apartment. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
CMPD said the incident will be investigated as a homicide.
Homicide outside of a restaurant
On Wednesday afternoon, CMPD said it was investigating a homicide at the 2500 block of Little Rock Road.
Officers responded to an assault with a deadly weapon where, upon arrival, a victim was found with gunshot wounds outside of the Hop Feng restaurant.
The victim was transported by MEDIC to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries where he was later pronounced dead.
On Thursday, CMPD identified the victim as 21-year-old Natajah Demetrius Johnson.
Shooting death late Wednesday
CMPD officers responded to a call just before 1 p.m. on Wednesday about an assault with a deadly weapon at the 13000 block of Castle Nook Drive.
Officers arriving at the scene found a female victim with an apparent gunshot wound in the driver’s seat of a vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The release said a person of interest was located in the area after the incident, and that detectives are not seeking anyone else related to the case.
On Thursday, the department announced Leon Wilfrido Esquita, 45, had been arrested and transported to the Law Enforcement Center in Uptown Charlotte to be interviewed by homicide detectives.
Following the interview, he was transferred to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and charged with murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle.
The department said the investigation into this case is ongoing.
Shooting death at a gas station early Thursday
Shortly after midnight on Thursday, CMPD officers responded to an assist medic call at the Kangaroo gas station on Wilkinson Boulevard.
A male victim with apparent gunshot wounds was discovered by officers upon arrival.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Thursday, identified the victims as 24-year-old Jaziyah Joseph Haigbea-Boone.
These are developing stories. Check back for updates.
This story was originally published February 15, 2024 at 10:14 AM.
