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Neighbors: Innocent bystander killed in Charlotte's 48th homicide

By DaShawn Brown, wsoctv.com and Mark Becker, wsoctv.com
By DaShawn Brown, wsoctv.com and Mark Becker, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A man died after being shot in the head Sunday afternoon in east Charlotte, marking the city's 48th homicide of 2017.

Police said Tommy Maddox, 24, was shot around noon on Kimmerly Woods Drive.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police charged Kristian N. Weddington, 23, with murder and shooting into an occupied property.

[IMAGES: Charlotte's 48th homicide investigation]

Detectives said the shooting started with an argument, but several neighbors told Channel 9 that Maddox was not involved in the argument and that he was standing on the porch when he was hit by the bullet.

“He had nothing to do with anything that was going on,” a neighbor said.

One of Maddox’s closest friends said he recently moved to Charlotte from Syracuse, New York.

At the same time last year, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police were investigating 24 homicides.

Channel 9 reporter DaShawn Brown spoke with a woman who was outside when the bullets started flying. She wasn't hurt, but shaken up given her proximity to the shooting.

She said several homes were shot at.

Neighbors said they heard at least 10 gunshots, which many people thought were fireworks.

Several homes were also hit by stray bullets, including one that traveled through a family's living room, and another that soared through their daughter’s bedroom window.

The investigation shut down part of the neighborhood for nearly six hours while detectives combed the complex to find clues.

Neighbors described the chaotic scene as some people ran to safety, while others rushed to help.

Among them was a nurse, who lives nearby.

“She heard it also and she ran out to see if she could help give CPR,” a neighbor said. “She said there was no need for her to give CPR because he was still breathing.”

Paramedics took Maddox to Carolinas Medical Center where he died.

'The people are lost,' says member of Dream Team for Peace

The binder on Judy Williams' desk is full of broken lives and broken hearts.

Her collection of clippings from all of the homicides in 2017 keeps growing, and tonight she will hold one more vigil.

“(Monday’s) vigil is for Sanchez McClure,” said Williams, of Mothers of Murdered Offspring. “He was killed a week before last when we had three murders right together.”

The murder of Maddox adds one more.

Maddox was hit by a bullet that was apparently meant for someone else.

The homicide was the seventh on a Sunday, five have been on Saturday and six on Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday have been the deadliest with eight and 11, respectively.

Shareef Greene, a member of the Dream Team for Peace, said it will take patience and work to turn the tide around.

“The people are lost,” Greene said. “We have to learn to breathe and de-escalate ourselves before the situation gets escalated.”

As she prepares for another vigil, Williams said she is not giving up.

“I refuse to accept that this the trend for Charlotte and this is the way it's going to keep going,” Williams said. “I refuse to accept it.”

[PHOTOS: Homicide victims of 2017]

[PHOTOS: Suspects in 2017 homicide cases]

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