CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police are looking for the suspect they said shot and killed a man inside a northwest Charlotte home Thursday.
Police were called around 6 p.m. to a home on Welling Avenue and found Michael Barnwell, 29, dead inside. They said he had been shot.
Officers were investigating Barnwell's death as "suspicious" and later ruled it a homicide, the city's 29th of the year.
We've also seen the police chopper circling overhead; detectives also on the ground going through the house https://t.co/qSjz2OZz2A @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/9ij8OViEyB
— DaShawn Brown (@DaShawnWSOC9) April 27, 2017
Authorities were on the scene for hours Thursday, which included homicide detectives, while a growing crowd surrounded the investigation, including Barnwell’s family.
(Barnwell)
Barnwell's aunt, Robin Alexander, told Channel 9 she hadn't heard from him in two days and was worried, so she went to check on him around 6 p.m. She said her son found his body and they called police.
“I'm hurt. I want to know what happened,” said Alexander. “I want to know why my nephew had to go through that. I wanna know why somebody took his life if that's what happened.”
RIGHT NOW: Death investigation underway after male found dead from gunshot wound in NW CLT; homicide detectives also here @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/YmhlbL7KqI
— DaShawn Brown (@DaShawnWSOC9) April 27, 2017
Family members said Barnwell lived in the home with his girlfriend.
Investigators said the case is ongoing. They asked anyone with information to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit Detective or call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
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