CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two teens were seriously injured a shooting near Romare Bearden Park in Uptown Charlotte late Saturday night, police said.
Medic confirmed they responded to a shooting near the park around 11:30 p.m. Saturday. Both victims were rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
On Sunday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said officers recovered a gun from the scene and a suspect, who is under the age of 18, was taken into custody.
"Honestly, I think it's pretty frightening," Alana Williams said. "Especially because I do ponder around Uptown at that hour."
"Oh I'm scared," Eliane Wibabara, a new Charlotte resident, said. "One moment you're OK and the other you're being shot at? That's just crazy."
CMPD hasn't identified the suspect who was arrested due to their age. Detectives are still looking for a second person in connection with the shooting but CMPD hasn't released any suspect information.
“It makes me question my safety when I grew up here," Williams said. "I never thought that my safety was in concern.”
The arrest highlights a problematic trend in Charlotte. Third-quarter crime stats released by CMPD showed that overall shootings are up by 2% but shootings involving juvenile are up by 32%.
"That number is alarming to us," Deputy Chief Jacquelyn Hulsey said. "That tells us that our juveniles are on the wrong track."
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