CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 17-year-old was killed and another person was seriously injured in a shooting at a north Charlotte park Tuesday night, police said.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police were called to a shooting at Fred Alexander Park, on Griers Grove Road, around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15. When Medic arrived, they found 17-year-old Damien Gonzalez suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Can’t hardly process it," Ronald Christenbury, grandfather of Damien Gonzalez, said.
The second victim, an adult man, was rushed to a hospital and remains in critical condition, according to CMPD. The age and name of this person was not released.
“The heart drops, it’s extremely frustrating that our young people are resorting to violence to solve any type of conflict or disagreement," CMPD Major Jackie Bryley said.
“It’s just people out here trying to make a name for themselves, taking innocent lives for no reason at all," Christenbury said.
"We haven’t had a homicide in the area in over a year, and that last homicide was my grandson," Jackie Lewis said Wednesday recalling the painful memories.
Lewis' grandson and son were both previous victims of gun violence. She turned her pain into purpose by creating 'Angles of No Mercy' to try and create change.
“Guns don’t kill people, people do and we got to be more responsible and hold our people and our courts accountable," Lewis said.
Tuesday night's shooting is being investigated as a homicide by CMPD.
In the meantime, the family of Damien Gonzalez hopes for a resolution. They want people to know he was a loving father to a 5-month-old son and was deeply loved himself.
“He’s probably the kindest, big-hearted person I know, and he’d do anything for anybody," Gloria Christenbury, grandmother of Damien Gonzalez, said.
On Nov. 28, CMPD announced they have arrested and charged two juveniles for Gonzalez's murder.
Contact Lexi Wilson at lwilson@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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