Police make arrest in Charlotte’s first homicide of 2020

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police announced Thursday that they have made an arrest in connection with the city’s first homicide of the year.

Devonne Smith was found shot to death just after 3 a.m. on Jan. 8 at a home on Feldbank Drive, near Beatties Ford Road.

When officers got to the scene, they found the 42-year-old inside the house with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police also found another man in the house who had been shot. He was taken to the hospital, but his condition was not released.

Officials said the relationship between the two victims is unclear.

On Thursday, police said they had arrested 27-year-old Terrell Howard after he turned himself. He was charged with murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

There were other people inside the home at the time of the shooting and CMPD said those people are cooperating with the investigation.

Authorities have not said what led up to the shooting and no arrests have been made.

Police and city leaders have pinpointed four hot spots for violence in Charlotte -- Beatties Ford Road and LaSalle, I-85 and West Sugar Creek Road, Central Avenue and Sharon Amity and Nations Ford and Arrowood roads.

While the area near Feldbank Drive was not one of the hot spots, it has seen its fair share of violence. This is the third homicide in the area in two years.

“We do have some calls for service in this area,” CMPD Major Allen Rutledge said. “But certainly, as always, we’re currently working residents to reduce crime throughout our jurisdiction and this neighborhood. We do have working relationships with people in this community and we will continue to do that.”

No other information has been released.

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

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