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.
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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.
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