Police: Suspect, victim likely knew each other in University City shooting

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — One person was shot Friday night at a busy shopping center along the 500 block of Collins-Aikman Drive in University City, officials said.

At about 7:45 p.m., police were called to the scene located off of West W.T. Harris Boulevard near North Tryon Street.

A man shared a text message with reporter Stephanie Tinoco. His granddaughter told him someone was shot while she was inside a salon at University Place.

CMPD confirmed the person was shot in the parking lot and ran inside the salon for help.

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Larry Austin’s granddaughter is in high school and she was just getting her hair done for Saturday night’s prom when the shooting happened.

He said officers wouldn’t let him go past the crime scene tape to get to her.

Austin texted his granddaughter to make sure she was OK.

“I said, ‘What’s going on?’” Austin said. “I saw a lot of yellow tape, and I just want to get my granddaughter out of here.”

The person shot had life-threatening injuries, paramedics said. The shooting victim is expected to be OK, CMPD said.

The shooter and victim most likely knew each other, officials said.

CMPD said as of 9 p.m. on Friday, no arrests had been made.

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Cox Media Group