'Very disheartening’: Police identify victim of Charlotte’s third homicide in 12 hours

CHARLOTTE — Police were investigating a homicide in west Charlotte early Tuesday, the city’s third homicide investigation in less than 12 hours.

Officers responded shortly before 4 a.m. to a call for shots being fired along Clydesdale Terrace, just off Tuckaseegee Road.

According to CMPD Maj. Ryan Butler, officers found 41-year-old Emanuel Taylor who had been shot inside a car. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The initial report suggested the shooting happened after an altercation.

Channel 9 reporter Gina Esposito could see crime scene technicians taking photographs of what appeared to be a black sedan.

Butler said detectives were collecting evidence, trying to speak with any potential witnesses and looking for home surveillance video that may help them make an arrest.

“Just gone crazy,” said Gwen Johnson, resident. “What’s wrong with people? Don’t they know how to talk anymore?”

Johnson lives several blocks from the scene of the crime.

“Nobody fears life anymore or taking lives,” she said. “It’s just taking what you want when you want it.”

“It’s a challenge, not just for our department, but a challenge for our city,” Butler told Channel 9 when asked about CMPD having to investigate three separate homicides in such a short period of time.

Butler said there was no indication that any of the three murders were connected.

Police Chief Johnny Jennings said while there is no indication the murders are connected, they continue the pattern of violence that has frustrated the department and it needs to stop.

“It seems like every other week or every week we come back and talk about multiple homicides we’ve had over the course of just a couple days so it’s very sad, it’s very disheartening,” Jennings said. “One thing that people don’t see a lot of time when you look at the numbers, they don’t see the pain and the hurt and the suffering that these family members on both sides are going through.”

Jennings said it takes more than police to stop the violence.

“We all have to have some ownership in it,” Jennings said. “It’s our city. It’s our community, and we want to be better. We want to be safer.”

Anyone who may know more about the crime can leave information anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

CMPD conducts second homicide investigation of the day

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