Richmond Co. deputies arrest two men accused of killing woman in northeast Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said the Secret Service, the State Bureau of Investigations, and deputies tracked down two men accused of murdering a woman and leaving her to die in northeast Charlotte.

Police said Damontez Corbitt and Tequndo Cradle were arrested in Richmond County

Officials said Corbitt was arrested for murder and possession of a firearm by a felon. Cradle was arrested for murder.

[RELATED: Residents push for change in crime-ridden north Charlotte community]

Officers responded to a welfare check around 1:30 a.m. on Tom Hunter Road and found 31-year-old Therrisha Steward on the side of the road. She had been shot several times and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Channel 9 was there as investigators roped off the area with crime scene tape and searched for witnesses to the shooting.

Steward's body was found just down the street from two other recent shootings. The violence started Friday night at a motel on Reagan Drive near Interstate 85. Police said three people have been charged in connection with a shooting involving a 15-year-old boy in that case.

[RELATED: 3 charged after 15-year-old boy found shot in north Charlotte, police say]

The next day, Tyshawn Boyd's body was left in the street after a shooting on West Sugar Creek Road near I-85. No arrests have been made in that case.

[RELATED: Police investigating after one killed in shooting near I-85 in north Charlotte]

The area has become a high priority for CMPD. Despite a rough few weeks, officials told Channel 9 both violent and property crime rates have trended down for the last two years.

Neighbors overwhelmed by the violence, drug and prostitution have partnered with police to start a new nonprofit called Heal Charlotte.

"People with soft hearts saying, 'We want to help. How can we help?'" said Greg Jackson, executive director for Heal Charlotte.

However, events like the NBA All-Star weekend and the CIAA Tournament strain CMPD’s resources, some typically dedicated to the area.

CMPD has three officers assigned specifically to the Reagan Drive and Sugar Creek Road corridor.

CMPD said its efforts are working but officials understand there's a lot more work to do.

"We've brought in a variety of resources to address some of the concerns in the area. North Tryon Division in cooperation with the community in the area has made tremendous strides to reduce crime," said CMPD Maj. Ryan Butler.

Residents told Channel 9 that since they started working with police, their emergency calls have gone down from 77 a week to seven.

“North Charlotte Division, in partnership with the community and the area, has made tremendous strides to reduce crime in the area,” Butler said.

Police said violent crime and property crime rates have trended downward in the area since 2017.

Despite the recent violence, police believe the neighborhood is on the right track.

Meanwhile, Jackson is expanding his focus from one complex to all of Reagan Drive.

“This is where the problems are,” Jackson said. “This is where the dirty work is. We need a lot of people that aren't afraid to get their hands dirty and clean the community up.”

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit detective. Detective Jones is the lead detective assigned to the case.  The public can also call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or visit the Crime Stoppers website.

This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

Cox Media Group