Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say a four-year-old boy was fatally shot inside a Charlotte townhouse early Wednesday as someone attempted to steal a car outside the home.
Police say they were called at 6:02 a.m. to a townhouse community on Cigar Court, where someone was reportedly trying to steal a car. During the alleged theft, police say shots were fired into a townhouse, fatally striking the boy inside.
Speaking to reporters at the scene Wednesday morning, CMPD Maj. Ryan Kendall said the shooting appeared to be intentional, and that the family inside did nothing to provoke the shooter.
"That's the most frustrating part of this — there is no indication that anyone in the residence discharged any weapons or presented any threat to these suspects whatsoever," Kendall said. "For whatever reason rounds were fired into this residence unprovoked, and this is the result. We now have a deceased child."
Police said the suspect or suspects made off with a black Dodge Charger with red break calipers, and police were searching for the stolen vehicle. Kendall declined to say how many rounds were fired, citing the ongoing investigation.
He also said police were trying to fathom why the shooting took place, and called the boy's death "absolutely tragic."
"There's no good reason why anyone would discharge a weapon into an occupied residence as a result of trying to take a car. It just doesn't make any sense," Kendall said. "We talk about the death of a child that should be getting up and going to school right now, that was not responsible in any way for the circumstances unfolding. This is absolutely frustrating and infuriating."
CMPD has not released the child's name. Kendall called on the public to help police with the investigation.
"Somebody out there watching me knows who's responsible for this — knows the identify of these suspects," he said. "These people need to be help accountable for this incident."
Public safety under scrutiny
The shooting death comes amid heightened public concern about safety following last month's fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee on the Charlotte light rail. Police described that incident, too, as unprovoked.
The suspect in the fatal stabbing, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., had been arrested 14 prior times — most recently for misusing the 911 system — and his family said he struggled with schizophrenia. Court records indicate he may have also been homeless.
Despite those high-profile cases, CMPD has reported citywide declines in crime this year. In July, the department said violent crime was down 25% and homicides down 29% compared to 2024.
Still, the stabbing and its apparent randomness have fueled criticism from Republicans and President Donald Trump, who accuse Democrats and Charlotte leaders of being too lenient on crime.
Mayor Vi Lyles released a statement Wednesday afternoon saying her "heart breaks" from the family of the four-year-old boy.
"Gun violence should never touch our neighborhoods, let alone our children," Lyles said. "We are committed to stopping violence in our city. We must all stand together because Charlotte deserves better. We cannot and will not accept this as our reality."
CMPD is urging anyone with information about the shooting to call 704-432-8477 (TIPS) and speak directly to a Homicide Unit detective. Detective Tony Smereka is the lead detective assigned to the case.
The public can also leave information anonymously by calling Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600, using the Charlotte Crime Stoppers P3 Tips Mobile App or by visiting the Charlotte Crime Stoppers website.
