Detectives used phone records to arrest veteran’s accused killer, records show

CHARLOTTE — A man accused of a deadly shooting earlier this month is now behind bars in North Carolina.

Eric Watson is accused of shooting and killing Derrick Byas on July 8 in south Charlotte.

Watson was arrested by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday. He was then extradited to Mecklenburg County on Friday.

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According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Byas’ body was found not far from a disabled vehicle with its hazards on along Rea Road.

According to court documents, investigators say minutes before his death, Byas was at a bar and was seen on surveillance video on the phone talking “about exchanging locations with someone and coming to meet them.”

Detectives said Byas left the bar and, 15 minutes later, was shot in the head along Rea Road.

License plate readers and cellphone data led police to Watson. They pinged his phone at the scene during the shooting.

Police say phone records connect Watson to the scene. He’s been charged with murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Jail records show he’s being held without bond at the Mecklenburg County jail. Judge Jennifer Fleet upheld that decision during Watson’s first court appearance Monday, saying it could be reviewed again at a later time.

‘Always the light of the room’

After Watson’s court appearance, Channel 9′s Hunter Sáenz spoke with Byas’ older brother, Dwan Byas. He was relieved to know Watson wouldn’t be back out on the streets.

“I almost thought that she wasn’t going to give him the no bond,” he said, adding, “That’s a little peace to know that he can’t be out here on the streets — just out here running around like nothing didn’t happen.”

Byas told Sáenz he and his brother were close.

“Growing up, everyone thought we were twins cause our mother would dress us alike,” he said.

“He was very smart. He wasn’t a bad person. He was always the light of the room.”

He touted his brother’s military service as well, saying he “served honorably.” He also told Sáenz the last time he spoke to his brother was not long before he died.

“Our last conversation, which was the week that he passed, we did tell each other that we loved each other and that’s how our mother always raised us,” he said.

It was no small feat to attend Watson’s hearing Monday, Byas said. It was the first time he had faced his brother’s alleged killer.

“To see the person who is being accused of killing my brother standing that close to me — it was very hard,” he said.

“It’s a lot. Just — my brother didn’t deserve what happened to him. I’m still looking for answers.”

Until he finds those answers, Byas left with only questions.

“Why did he have to do that to my brother? Because my brother wouldn’t hurt nobody,” he said.

(VIDEO: 1 charged with murder after man found shot in south Charlotte)

1 charged with murder after man found shot in south Charlotte

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