CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department investigated three deadly shootings within 12 hours of each other Wednesday and Thursday.
The first homicide happened at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at a shopping center on Little Rock Road. Natajah “Taj” Johnson, 21, was the shooting victim, police said.
Another person was killed in southwest Charlotte just before 10 p.m. Wednesday on Country House Street in a neighborhood off Hamilton Road. Leon Wilfrido Esquita, 45, was arrested and charged with murder.
The third homicide investigation was at about 1 a.m. Thursday at the Kangaroo Express gas station on Wilkinson Boulevard in west Charlotte. Jaziyah Joseph Haigbea-Boone was killed in this shooting, police said.
COVERAGE OF THE HOMICIDES:
- CMPD continues to piece together deadly shooting at shopping center
- One shot, killed in southwest Charlotte
- Man shot and killed in west Charlotte
‘He was truly loved’
Family members said Johnson was going to get a haircut at the Little Rock Road shopping plaza when he was shot and killed.
“[We’re in] a lot of pain,” said Cameron Horton, Johnson’s cousin. “Because he was truly loved.”
“I don’t know what happened,” said Cassandrea Neal, Johnson’s aunt. “Like, the officer asked me yesterday was [Taj] involved in anything, and I said, ‘work’. He worked 10-12 hours a day.”
“Yeah, that’s all he did was work,” said Horton. “He was a go-getter.”
They said Johnson worked at Spare Time Bowling in Huntersville, but had dreams of becoming a rapper.
“He wanted to be a bigtime star, like a superstar,” said Horton.
“He would travel and win competitions for rapping,” said Neal. “He actually went to Atlanta with one of his friends just to support, and wasn’t even [supposed to be] performing, but ended up winning. He won a trip to New York. He was so excited.”
Horton and Neal say violence in Charlotte is happening too often.
“It just needs to stop,” said Horton. “Like, why do guns have to be the play in Charlotte? Or anywhere?”
But family said the big focus of Johnson’s life in recent months was preparing to become a father for the first time.
“He was just so excited to show us the baby clothes that he bought the baby,” said Neal. “He picked them out himself. We didn’t have to help him. He was happy and scared at the same time about being a first-time dad, but he knew he had the support. He has a big family.”
CMPD has so far not released any information about a suspected shooter in this case.
Boots on the ground
“I feel so sorry for those parents who have to go identify their child,” said Juan Hall, who is an outreach worker with Alternatives to Violence.
The group’s goal is to reduce gun violence and offer solutions other than police.
City leaders believe they’ve made a difference in areas, including the Beatties Ford Corridor.
Community activists say they want to see more boots on the ground, especially after three fatal shootings.
“Be a part of the schools, and go into the classroom, and help with de-escalating things that go on,” said Hall. “The buddy programs that they have where they start in the daycares and reading with the kids.
The city has $1 million set aside to address community violence through its Safe Charlotte grant program.
The money will go to nonprofits to provide resources in different neighborhoods.
Hall said he would like to see local leaders spend more time in communities stricken by violence.
“You got to understand who they are,” he said. “Where they come from, their background. What they have been through. Their traumas, everything.”
VIDEO: 1 shot, killed in southwest Charlotte
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