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Murders Reported In Charlotte, Hickory; Activists Banned From Statehouse

Murders were reported on Sunday in both Charlotte and Hickory. Meanwhile, police are asking for help finding the driver of a white SUV who struck and killed another man on Freedom Drive, then left the scene. And N.C. civil rights leader William Barber and other activists have been banned from the state legislature after his arrest in recent health care protest.

MAN SHOT TO DEATH IN WEST CHARLOTTE

CMPD has identified a man shot to death in west Charlotte Sunday. Twenty-one-year-old Zachary Finch was found lying in the front yard of an apartment on Farmer Street, with an apparent gunshot wound, around 1:30 yesterday afternoon.  He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are looking for witnesses.  It was the 43rd homicide so far this year in Charlotte.  This time last year, there were 22 homicides.  WFAE is profiling all of this year’s Charlotte homicide victims on aninteractive timeline at WFAE.org

HICKORY MURDER SUSPECT SURRENDERS

A Statesville man suspected in a fatal shooting outside a lounge in on North Center Street in Hickory has turned himself in. The Hickory Daily Record reports that 41-year-old Bradley Davis surrendered to Hickory Police this morning around 9 a.m.

Officers were called to Alessio’s Lounge and Grill for a report of shots fired around 2 AM Saturday. Thirty-seven-year-old Shamar Rashad Wilson of Hickory was found in the parking lot, and was pronounced dead later at Frye Regional Medical Center. Police say the shooting does not appear to be random.

HIT AND RUN DRIVER KILLS PEDESTRIAN ON FREEDOM DRIVE

A man was struck and killed by a hit and run driver around 11:30 Sunday night on Freedom Drive, northwest of uptown.  A witness told Charlotte Mecklenburg Police that a white Honda Pilot SUV ran a red light and struck the pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene. He has not been identified. Police say the SUV was last seen moving south of Interstate 85. It has damage on the left side of the vehicle. They’re asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ‘RED FRONT DEPT. STORE’ REZONING

The Charlotte City Council meets Monday night to consider a list of re-zonings. Among them is includes one that would allow a historic building in the Belmont neighborhood to be re-used for a restaurant and apartments. The two-story building at Belmont Avenue and Pegram Street is known as the Red Front Department Store. A public hearing is planned at 5:30, with a vote later in the meeting. The Zoning Committee unanimously recommended the plan.   

TOP COURT STRIKES DOWN N.C. LAW BARRING SEX OFFENDERS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

The Supreme Court has struck down a North Carolina lawthat bars convicted sex offenders from Facebook, Twitter and other popular sites. The justices ruled unanimously today in favor of North Carolina resident Lester Packingham Jr. His Facebook boast about beating a traffic ticket led to his conviction for violating a 2008 law aimed at keeping sex offenders off internet sites children might use.

The court rejected the state's argument that the law deals with the virtual world in the same way that states keep sex offenders out of playgrounds and other places children visit.  - Associated Press

BARBER BANNED FROM N.C. STATEHOUSE

North Carolina civil rights leader the Rev. William Barber has been banned from entering the state Legislative Building after he was arrested at a protest there last month. A magistrate ordered Barber and 31 others arrested during a sit-in over health care on May 30 to stay away from the building as part of their bond on second-degree trespassing charges. General Assembly Police Chief Martin Brock told The News & Observer of Raleigh he didn't ask for the ban, but will likely request it for future protesters who are arrested.  Barber's attorney the ban is unconstitutional.  - Associated Press

7 SHOT IN MYRTLE BEACH

At least seven people are recovering from injuries after a shooting in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, that was captured live on Facebook. The shooting came Sunday around 12:30 a.m. as a group of people blocked traffic on Ocean Boulevard.  Police say a fight started and someone pulled a gun and began firing. A security guard who saw the shooting shot and wounded the gunman. The security officer was grazed by a bullet but was treated at the scene.  Part of the gunfire was captured and streamed online by a bystander.  The gunman car-jacked a vehicle but was caught a short time later. None of the injuries in the shooting are thought to be life-threatening.  - Associated Press

SPORTS: KNIGHTS LOSE; KEMBA WALKER TO CAPTAIN WORLD TEAM

The Charlotte Knights head to Georgia Monday night for a four-game series against the Gwinnett Braves. The Knights lost at home yesterday to the Indianapolis Indians, 12 to 11.  The Indians scored 5 runs in the ninth inning to win the game before more than 9,100 fans at BB&T Ballpark.

The Charlotte Hornets' Kemba Walker has been named one of two co-captains for Team World in a game against Team Africa in this summer. The NBA-sponsored game is Aug. 25 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks is the other co-captain with Walker. Team Africa's captains will be Thabo Sefolosha of the Atlanta Hawks, who has a South African parent; and Luol Deng of South Sudan, who plays fro the Los Angeles Lakers. 

“I can’t wait to make my first trip to Africa and join Dirk in leading Team World,” Walker said in a press release. “Playing in an NBA game in Africa will be a special moment I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

Walker, a 2017 NBA All-Star, along with Nowitzki, a 13-time NBA All-Star and 2011 NBA Champion, will co-captain Team World.  Deng, a two-time NBA All-Star and Team Africa captain at NBA Africa Game 2015, and Sefolosha, an 11-year NBA veteran whose father was born in South Africa, will lead Team Africa.

David Boraks previously covered climate change and the environment for WFAE. See more at www.wfae.org/climate-news. He also has covered housing and homelessness, energy and the environment, transportation and business.