Safe exchange zones created in wake of baseball player's shooting death

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police announced a partnership with QuikTrip to set up exchange zones for people who want to meet in a safe place to exchange items purchased online.

The safe zones were created just a few months after a beloved college baseball player was shot and killed in west Charlotte.

[PAST COVERAGE: Mother of slain baseball player: 'We are broken']

The program is meant for shoppers who make purchases on websites such as Craigslist. The exchange zones will be marked by two red parking spots at every QuikTrip to help people see where they are. There will also be 24-hour surveillance and periodic zone checks by officers.

CMPD kicking off ‘safe exchange program’ for people making purchases on Let Go, Craigslist, and Offer Up. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/ODfaMkdChV
— Tina Terry (@TinaTerryWSOC9) October 26, 2017

Officers said about 40 people in Charlotte have reported being robbed while meeting strangers to make online purchases.

During the announcement, the mother of Zack Finch spoke about the program.

[Photos of Zack Finch]

Finch, 21, was shot and killed in June while trying to buy a cellphone using the buying and selling app called LetGo. He was a student and baseball player at the University of Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky.

Finch’s mother, Tara Finch, said she is grateful for CMPD’s effort to create safe exchange programs.

"He would want something positive to come out of this" - Tara Finch #wecare. #exchangezones pic.twitter.com/tYUPIwfLGF
— CMPD News (@CMPD) October 26, 2017