Pregnant woman shot to death inside south Charlotte apartment

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are investigating a homicide after a woman was found dead inside a south Charlotte apartment late Tuesday night.

Police responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call shortly before 11 p.m. on Seneca Place at the Seneca Woods Apartments, off Park Road.

When officers arrived, they found 20-year-old Donsha Rankin shot dead inside an apartment.

Police said there were people inside the apartment at the time of the shooting and that Rankin and the suspect knew each other.

Channel 9 spoke to family members who said Rankin was pregnant, and had just found out Tuesday that she was expecting a baby girl.

Family also said that there were other people in the apartment and that Rankin was killed during an argument.

CMPD has not confirmed those details and were still looking for witnesses.

Channel 9 spoke with a man who knew Rankin and who was in the apartment shortly before the shooting. He said he had stepped out to smoke when a single gunshot went off.

“I was smoking a cigarette and I heard ‘pow.’ I see people running downstairs and they said, ‘Can you call 911?’” said Darren Wright. “I called 911 because I know what I heard.”

Authorities have not made any arrests or released any suspect information. Police will consult with prosecutors before deciding if any charges will be filed.

An AR-15 with ammunition was seized from the apartment but authorities did not say if it was involved in the deadly shooting.

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