CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Three separate incidents around Charlotte resulted in four deaths over the weekend, according to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
"Every single incident is a tragedy," Lt. Brad Koch said.
It started shortly after midnight, early Saturday morning on Matheson Avenue.
CMPD said when they arrived at the scene they found Otis Lucas Jr., 42, on the side of the road with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His family has been notified.
Police identified Marchell Bright-Walters, 47, as the suspect involved, and she was charged with voluntary manslaughter and is in custody.
Saturday afternoon, an assault with a deadly weapon call for service resulted in another death, CMPD said.
A Medic unit in the area found 21-year-old Tyshawn Izayiah Rodney Levar Boyd with an apparent gunshot wound on the side of the road. He was transported to Atrium Main where he was pronounced deceased. His family has been notified.
According to Major Cam Selvey, who is in charge of the homicide unit, a lot of people were present in the area that day who might have information.
“I have every reason to believe they’re going to be able to make an arrest in that case,” Selvey said.
On Feb. 9, CMPD announced an arrest in the case. Police said 22-year-old Treyvon Harris has been charged for the murder of Boyd.
As a result of continued investigation, Homicide Unit detectives identified Harris as a suspect in this case, and a murder warrant was issued for his arrest. Harris is currently in custody at the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office for unrelated charges, were he will be served with the outstanding murder warrant.
Sunday morning, CMPD said two people died following a shooting at a home in south Charlotte.
CMPD was called to a home in the 11400 block of Glen Abbey Way near Providence Country Club around 4 a.m. Sunday. When officers arrived, they found 51-year-old Matthew Allen Chaplin and 15-year-old Jenna Hewitt dead after being shot.
Police reported the suspect, 23-year-old John Bocek also died Sunday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police believe Bocek forced his way into a home through a back door on Sunday when he fatally shot Chaplin and his daughter's 15-year-old friend. Police said the 16-year-old daughter, who was not shot, was able to run to a neighbor's home to call 911.
At the time of the shooting, CMPD had warrants for Bocek with robbery and assault with a deadly weapon in connection with a crime that occurred at this same address last week.
Chaplin's daughter knew Bocek, according to police. At this time, CMPD is not releasing further information about the relationships between the suspect and victims, as they are still working on the case.
Police were not able to release if the 15-year-old friend who was shot and killed knew Bocek.
In response to the three cases, Selvey said conflicts can be solved without firearms, adding there is no excuse for resorting to unnecessary violence.
"We talk about de-escalation a lot in police work, but de-escalation has a place in everyday life," Selvey said. "It's a tool we can all use."
Selvey said as a father, the ages of the victims in these cases impacts him personally.
"As a father, when I look at some of the ages on these victims, you know Mr. Boyd, he's younger than my oldest son," Selvey said. "Ms. Hewitt, she's younger than both of my kids. I can't imagine what these families are going through. It affects us at the police department. I talk to my detectives about it, it's a very hard job for them."
Selvey said while they are investigating, they strive to not further traumatize the victims or witnesses, providing resources to hopefully help them heal. He urged parents to be involved in their children's lives to help keep them safe
"These kind of things, they don’t have to happen," Selvey said. "People make choices to resort to violence and there are other avenues out there."
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 704-334-1600 or 704-432-TIPS to speak directly to a homicide detective.
"It was a very tragic weekend for the city of Charlotte," Koch said.