(Trends Wide) — A 3-year-old boy was killed and his sister was injured inside a relative’s home in Charlotte, North Carolina, after several people shot the residence roughly 150 times, police said.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is investigating the fatal shooting of Asiah Figueroa, who was sleeping at her great-grandmother’s home when she was fatally shot before midnight Tuesday. His 4-year-old sister was brushed off during the shooting and is expected to survive, the CMPD said.
The police department released what appears to be surveillance video with footage of the shooting, hoping the public can help identify the cars or suspects. In the video, two vehicles drive down a street and stop in front of a house; then several people get out of the cars and start shooting at the house. Police said there were 11 people in the home when the shooting occurred.
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Susie Whitley, the boy’s great-grandmother, told Trends Wide affiliate WBTV that Asiah and other family members were staying at her home and that she heard the shots just as she was about to fall asleep. Her granddaughter started yelling that Asiah was shot while dialing 911, Whitley told the news outlet.
“When I walked into his room, my grandson was there holding him and he said, ‘Grandma, I think he’s gone.’ I didn’t want to believe it,” Whitley told WBTV.
Asiah would have turned 4 in December.
Detectives believe the shooting is related to two other homicides, which have some connection to Hopewell High School students. Students from North Mecklenburg and Chambers (Vance) high schools could also be involved, authorities said.
“We believe that these tragic events stemmed from some simple disputes. What started as a dispute game between teenagers has turned into a deadly game that has now claimed two lives,” said CMPD Captain Joel McNelly.
McNelly implored parents of high school students to submit any relevant information.
“Parents of kids in these high schools: What we need from you is to be as outraged as we are by this. This is where your children go to school. These are the people your children are with and we need your help.” McNelly said. “We need you to talk to your children. You need to know whether or not your children were home the last few nights. If your children were not home the last nights during the night, we need to know.”
There are multiple suspects and multiple firearms involved, but none of the cars or any of the people involved have been located, police said.
Anyone with information about the shooting can call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a detective from the Homicide Unit. The investigation of this case is active and ongoing, the CMPD said.
(Trends Wide) — A 3-year-old boy was killed and his sister was injured inside a relative’s home in Charlotte, North Carolina, after several people shot the residence roughly 150 times, police said.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is investigating the fatal shooting of Asiah Figueroa, who was sleeping at her great-grandmother’s home when she was fatally shot before midnight Tuesday. His 4-year-old sister was brushed off during the shooting and is expected to survive, the CMPD said.
The police department released what appears to be surveillance video with footage of the shooting, hoping the public can help identify the cars or suspects. In the video, two vehicles drive down a street and stop in front of a house; then several people get out of the cars and start shooting at the house. Police said there were 11 people in the home when the shooting occurred.
Preview (opens in a new tab)
Susie Whitley, the boy’s great-grandmother, told Trends Wide affiliate WBTV that Asiah and other family members were staying at her home and that she heard the shots just as she was about to fall asleep. Her granddaughter started yelling that Asiah was shot while dialing 911, Whitley told the news outlet.
“When I walked into his room, my grandson was there holding him and he said, ‘Grandma, I think he’s gone.’ I didn’t want to believe it,” Whitley told WBTV.
Asiah would have turned 4 in December.
Detectives believe the shooting is related to two other homicides, which have some connection to Hopewell High School students. Students from North Mecklenburg and Chambers (Vance) high schools could also be involved, authorities said.
“We believe that these tragic events stemmed from some simple disputes. What started as a dispute game between teenagers has turned into a deadly game that has now claimed two lives,” said CMPD Captain Joel McNelly.
McNelly implored parents of high school students to submit any relevant information.
“Parents of kids in these high schools: What we need from you is to be as outraged as we are by this. This is where your children go to school. These are the people your children are with and we need your help.” McNelly said. “We need you to talk to your children. You need to know whether or not your children were home the last few nights. If your children were not home the last nights during the night, we need to know.”
There are multiple suspects and multiple firearms involved, but none of the cars or any of the people involved have been located, police said.
Anyone with information about the shooting can call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a detective from the Homicide Unit. The investigation of this case is active and ongoing, the CMPD said.