CMPD finds 1 shot to death while responding to disabled car

CHARLOTTE — A homicide investigation got underway Monday morning in south Charlotte, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said.

Police were called around 5:30 a.m. to Rea Road between Interstate 485 and Piper Glen Drive. They were called for a disabled vehicle.

When they arrived, officers found 36-year-old Derrick Byas who had been shot and died from his injuries.

Initially, CMPD said the case was a death investigation. But before 12:30 p.m., police said the case had turned into a homicide investigation.

Rea Road was closed Monday morning for the investigation, which was focused around a silver SUV.

Jessica Lynn-Lato’s daughter drove by the SUV before police arrived.

“She’s unsettled to think that maybe she drove by, and somebody was hurt inside that car,” Lynn-Lato said.

The part of south Charlotte rarely sees crime.

In the past 28 days, there have been no reports of any criminal activity within a half-mile of the homicide investigation, according to crime maps.

Lynn-Lato hopes an arrest is made.

“It’s just shocking and we would really like to know what happened, what provoked it, if it was a murder,” she said.

Police did not share any information about a suspect.

(WATCH BELOW: 1 hurt in east Charlotte shooting, MEDIC says)

1 hurt in east Charlotte shooting, MEDIC says

©2024 Cox Media Group