CHARLOTTE — CMPD detectives began conducting two separate homicide investigations Friday night.
Police responded to LaSalle Street in the area of Newland Road in north Charlotte, where someone was pronounced dead, CMPD tweeted around 4:20 p.m.
CMPD said it started with a shootout between two vehicles on LaSalle Street.
Police said one of the cars crashed into a tree in the front yard of a home on LaSalle Street. The driver, 28-year-old Cedric Kirkland, was pronounced deceased on scene by MEDIC.
Homicide detectives responded, but initially said it was a death investigation. After gathering further information, it was determined the death was a homicide.
After the collision, police said they were looking for the other vehicle involved. They said they had video and witness accounts, but they were not prepared to give out a preliminary suspect-vehicle description.
“For the community, for the victim, for their family, we have the responsibility to be that thorough, so we can get it right,” CMPD Maj. Ryan Butler said. “We only get one chance at it. That small thing could make the difference in the investigation.”
Days later, police announced they had arrested 24-year-old George Winston for the murder of Kirkland.
Officers said throughout the investigation, they identified the vehicle of interest and coordinated with patrol officers across the city to search for it. Officers were able to find the unoccupied vehicle, which led to several interviews.
After the interviews, Winston was identified as a suspect and arrested. He has been charged with murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle.
Riverbirch Drive homicide
Police have also identified the victim of second homicide that happened earlier Friday in south Charlotte.
Officers said they responded to an assault call just before 2:30 p.m. on Riverbirch Drive off of Sharon Road West. They said they found Divante Brown with an “apparent trauma.”
Paramedics arrived and pronounced him deceased.
Detectives arrested James Tyler Singleton, 29, and charged him with murder and possession of a firearm by a felon.
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No further information has been released.
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