CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police are investigating a shooting that left one person dead on Wednesday.
A shooting was reported on Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road near Belhaven Blvd just after 2 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Officers found Paul Ja'Varius Tate, 21, dead from a gunshot wound injury at the scene. Tate was a freshman at Livingstone College.
A 16-year-old was arrested in connection to the shooting, police said on Thursday. The teen is charged with murder. Their identity is not being released due to their age.
WCNC Charlotte spoke with people who were watching the investigation unfold outside. People told WCNC Charlotte this is uncommon for the area. Natasha Taylor has lived nearby for two years.
“I shop over here, I go to the Planet Fitness, and, for two years, I have never seen anything like this," Taylor said.
Greg Jackson is with Heal Charlotte, a nonprofit advocating to combat gun violence, echoed that. He said the violence comes down to a lack of resources in some areas.
"The root starts systemically at a macro level," Jackson said. "We need to at the state level put my dollars into gun violence prevention and not intervention.”
Livingstone College released the following statement after learning of Tate's death:
A senseless act of gun violence has prematurely taken the life of a student – a freshman – who was in the beginning of his educational pursuits at Livingstone College.
Faculty and staff who knew him well described him as a joy to be around. “I understand he was recently adopted into the kingdom of God by the confessing of his faith and would often quote Scriptures,” Livingstone President Dr. Anthony J. Davis said. “I pray this brings solace to his family, friends, and all who knew him during this time of bereavement. Unfortunately, this is a sober reminder that life is fleeting, but earth hath no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.”
Paul graduated from West Mecklenburg High School and attended Shiloh AME Zion Church in Mt. Holly.
“Please keep the family of this fallen Blue Bear in your prayers as they navigate through this most difficult time of a life gone too soon,” Davis said.
CMPD is continuing to investigate this incident. Anyone with information on this shooting is asked to contact police at (704) 432-8477 or Charlotte Crime Stoppers at (704) 334-1600.
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