CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 16-year-old has been arrested and charged in connection to a homicide after a body was found in northeast Charlotte on Wednesday, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
The homicide was reported on Ann Elizabeth Drive just east of North Tryon Street on Wednesday. CMPD sent an alert about the incident just before 6 p.m.
CMPD said after receiving a call for service, police later found Jonathan Miller, 14, dead within the area with multiple gunshot wounds. He was confirmed dead at the scene.
A teenager who lives nearby, Christopher Carbajal, told WCNC Charlotte it was a kid who found the body. CMPD has not confirmed that detail at this time.
"There is like bike trails in the back and some kids go back there and one of the kids found him," Carbajal said. "It's very scary to know that you're not even safe in a community where a lot of kids walk around."
CMPD said they are working to find out if the victim lived in the neighborhood.
This was the second homicide reported around North Tryon Street in 24 hours. Conner O’Neil Yancy, 20, was found dead in his car with gunshot wounds around 1 a.m. Wednesday on North Tryon Street.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools said Miller was a student at Julius L. Chambers High School.
The school's principal sent the following statement to parents:
Dear Julius L. Chambers High School families, this is Principal Hicks with an important message. It’s with a heavy heart that I share news of the death of one of our students, Jonathan Miller. We are heartbroken by this loss of life, and we grieve with Jonthan’s family and friends. The death of a child is always a sad and troubling event and can often have a profound effect on the student’s friends and classmates. It is extremely important for children to have an opportunity to talk through their feelings and reactions in an age-appropriate manner. Grief counseling services are always available for any student or staff member who needs it. In times like these, we must continue to come together and support each other. Please know that we stand with all of you, and we gain strength by helping one another through this difficult time.
The student’s death is not related to a school lockdown that happened at Julius L. Chambers High School on Thursday, the school clarified.
Seeking solutions to youth crime
A sharp jump in homicides this year has Charlotte leaders and community activists searching for ways to reduce crime, especially among youth.
In just the first five months of the year, Charlotte has seen a 51% jump in homicides compared to this same time last year. CMPD told WCNC Charlotte that by this point in 2023, there had been 34 homicides. So far in 2024, there have been 52 homicides in Charlotte.
City leaders and community activists are trying to seek solutions to the troubling youth violence. On Thursday, the Charlotte City Council's Housing, Safety and Community Committee held a special meeting to discuss recommendations to reduce teen crime.
The plan includes several solutions, including boosting employment programs for justice-involved youth and CMPD's youth programs. Staff members also recommend helping fund the development of a pediatric behavioral health care facility called the Katie Blessing Center.
City staff members said they surveyed hundreds of students and collaborated with community organizations to craft the recommendations. City council members will consider the plan. Some of the recommended funding for the program could be approved in the upcoming budget cycle.
WCNC Charlotte is committed to reporting on the many issues facing the communities we serve. We tell the stories of people working to solve persistent social problems. We examine how problems can be solved or addressed to improve the quality of life and make a positive difference. WCNC Charlotte is seeking solutions for you. Send your tips or questions to newstips@wcnc.com.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.