CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Officials said three men have been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting outside a University City apartment complex.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte student Keith Bryson Powell, 18, was arrested inside his dorm and charged with murder and felonious restraint.
(Keith Powell)
Officials said Powell's classmates watched as officers stormed Hunt Hall Thursday and took him into custody.
According to authorities, Yocouba Meite, 25, was charged with first-degree murder Wednesday and 23-year-old Khalil Capers was charged with murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill Friday.
(Yocouba Meite)
Police said 21-year-old Javon Sherwood was pronounced dead when officers arrived around 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Belle Haven Apartment Homes on Autumn Lake Court.
The killing was allegedly over a drug deal and was Charlotte's 55th homicide of the year.
Irfan Chowdy, who lives in the University City area near the shooting scene, told Channel 9 he heard gunshots and people screaming and then saw a body lying on the ground.
“I heard people screaming outside. Probably four or five (gunshots) and then one came right after the four or five,” Chowdy said. "It’s a little worrisome to me."
[1 seriously injured in shooting in south Charlotte, police say]
Officers said they have been busy responding to violent crimes in the University City area this year.
Just in the past three weeks, there have been two homicide investigations a couple of miles apart.
Also, on Nov. 13, a mother was robbed while putting her 2-year-old in a car seat. Then, a week later, a man was shot in the neck in a nearby apartment complex parking lot.
“I was definitely surprised. This is not something that happens in this neighborhood at all,” Chowdy said.
These incidents have raised concern for residents who live in the University City area. Some people Channel 9 spoke with said they attribute the increase in crime with the rapidly growing population.
"I would say that has something to do with it, because people come from bigger cities and might bring crime with them, things like that," Chowdy said.
Residents told Channel 9's Stephanie Tinoco they would like to see more police presence in their neighborhoods.
“I’ve lived there for 20 years, and it’s never been as bad, as far as multiple crimes, like every other day,” University City resident Scott Reels said.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said it is offering officers in the University City division overtime opportunities in those high-crime areas.
“The challenges that we have with economics, as well as a congested, growing city, those are the problems,” Reels said.
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