Suspect in fatal Uptown shooting tracked by cameras, arrested on CATS bus

CHARLOTTE — New court documents reveal how investigators say a man accused of killing another man near the Spectrum Center was identified and arrested Sunday.

Police say surveillance video showed 49-year-old Sean Lamont Dell follow the victim before shooting him near East Fifth Street, then board a Charlotte Area Transit System bus where officers later took him into custody.

Officers responded to East Fifth Street around noon and found the victim shot in the stomach. He later died at the hospital.

Surveillance cameras helped them quickly identify a suspect, investigators said.

The affidavit says video shows Dell following the victim along the light rail tracks from the Trade Street side of the Spectrum Center before confronting him near East Fifth Street and shooting him.

Police say Dell then walked away from the scene and got on a CATS bus at the Charlotte Transportation Center.

Investigators stopped that bus, took Dell into custody, and said they recovered a black backpack and a firearm.

He was charged with first-degree murder.

Investigators have not revealed a motive and have not said how, or if, the two men knew each other.

The judge ruled no bond for the Dell.

People were surprised that the shooting happened in broad daylight on one of the busiest Sundays of the year as thousands of Carolina Panthers fans were in Uptown for the team’s home game.

“They just want to walk around and come visit. They’re not going to want to do that when they hear about people coming to die on the sidewalk,” said resident Trevion Brewer.

Vernon Siders lives a few blocks from where the shooting took place.

“That’s crazy, but it seems like that’s becoming the thing of the norm now,” said Uptown resident Vernon Siders. “Little bit of both surprised that it’s that area, used to it because I’m a retired cop, so I’ve seen it all over the place.”

He says he stays vigilant no matter the time of day.

“I’m always being a little bit aware of my surroundings as they say, ‘Keep your head on the swivel,’” Siders said.

Channel 9 reached out to CATS and asked if Dell had a ticket for the bus and if he road the light rail that day. The victim did have a bus ticket.