Crime
17-year-old Jaleek Mitchell killed in shooting near Romare Bearden Park in Charlotte
Tragedy struck uptown Charlotte on Saturday night as 17-year-old Jaleek Mitchell was fatally shot at Romare Bearden Park.
The incident occurred shortly before 10 p.m. on November 2, when Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officers responded to reports of gunfire in the park area.
Upon arrival, officers found Mitchell suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency medical personnel transported him to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
A section of the park and South Church Street were cordoned off while police investigated the scene, with multiple CMPD officers actively working to gather evidence and interview witnesses.
Romare Bearden Park has been the focus of CMPD’s efforts to curb crime over the past year, particularly through “Operation TRIO,” which has targeted several high-profile areas with heightened crime rates.
The park has previously been the site of a violent July 4th altercation and a New Year’s Eve shooting that left five people injured. CMPD Major Bret Balamucki, speaking earlier this year, acknowledged ongoing efforts to improve the area’s safety: “We constantly battle the perception of safety. Even one incident can change how people feel when they come here with family or friends.”
Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the shooting to contact the Homicide Unit at 704-432-TIPS or to share tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
MEMPHIS, TN – A mass shooting in South Memphis on Wednesday afternoon left two people dead and three others critically injured following a violent exchange of gunfire inside a residence near LeMoyne-Owen College.
The shooting occurred at a home on College Park Drive, just yards away from the LeMoyne-Owen College campus and in close proximity to a daycare and tutoring facility.
Emergency responders arrived to find five victims suffering from gunshot wounds. One individual was pronounced dead at the scene, while another succumbed to their injuries at Regional One Health.
One victim has been identified as Leon Parker.
The three remaining victims were transported to local hospitals in critical condition.
The Memphis Police Department (MPD) responded swiftly, with multiple squad cars, ambulances, fire trucks, and crime scene vans lining the street for hours. MPD Chief C.J. Davis and other top officials were present as the investigation unfolded.
Authorities believe the shooting stemmed from an altercation inside the home that escalated into gunfire.
“There was some type of disturbance inside the residence that led to an exchange of gunfire,” said Lt. Louis Brownlee, an MPD spokesperson.
Police have confirmed that all individuals involved in the shooting have been identified, and the violence appears to have been contained within the residence. However, the motive for the shooting remains unclear, and it has not been determined who fired the first shots or whether any of the survivors will face charges.
Shortly after the shooting, LeMoyne-Owen College issued a statement clarifying that the incident did not involve any students, faculty, or staff and occurred off-campus.
“LeMoyne-Owen College remains fully operational following reports of an off-campus incident near 948 College Park Drive. The incident did not involve or impact LeMoyne-Owen College students, faculty, or staff, and there are no lockdowns or alerts in place at this time,” the college’s statement read.
Dr. Dunn-Ross, Chief Operating Officer of LeMoyne-Owen College, emphasized the college’s commitment to safety:
“The safety and well-being of our campus community is always our top priority. We are aware of the situation and in communication with local authorities. At this time, there is no threat to our campus, and operations will continue as normal.”
As of now, MPD has not provided further details on the cause of the altercation or whether any arrests have been made. The investigation remains active, and authorities urge anyone with information to contact law enforcement.