CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said the SBI is investigating an officer-involved shooting that took place in north Charlotte on Saturday morning. The shooting left one man dead.
It happened shortly after 6 a.m. on Saturday on the 1500 block of Catherine Simmons Avenue.
WCNC Charlotte's crew at the scene saw nearly a dozen police vehicles near the intersection of Catherine Simmons Avenue and Jennings Street.
In a press briefing, CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings said officers received a call about two men having a dispute with shots being fired. When officers arrived, they heard the sound of additional gunshots.
Officers saw a man pointing a gun at another man, CMPD said.
"Officers gave the subject pointing the gun repeated verbal commands in an attempt to de-escalate," CMPD said in a statement.
Leandra Garrett with the Alternatives to Violence program is devastated to hear about a deadly shooting within an area where she grew up.
"It's very heartbreaking because we canvas here every day and we work here every day. So nine times out of 10 we know exactly who it is that this happened to," she said.
The department said preliminary information indicates the subject did not comply with the commands.
"At that point, officers perceived an imminent and deadly threat and multiple officers fired their service weapons," CMPD said.
The man -- who has been identified by his family as 33-year-old Sanrico McGill -- retreated into the home, where officers found him suffering from gunshot wounds.
For neighbors who still live in the area like Cedric Dean, their concern about law enforcement’s response stems from a lack of communication and understanding of the area.
"We engage these people every day. And we are here with him. But we cannot get the police to work with us," he claimed.
Both Garrett and Dean have a boots-on-the-ground, active approach in helping serve their community. Dean believes their work calls for more from city officials.
“We need them to start being proactive, instead of reactive, right? You know, we need them to show this family down here that they really care about a mental health matter because mental health truly matters,” Dean said.
CMPD said officers immediately rendered aid. Medic then arrived and pronounced the man deceased.
No officers were injured in the incident.
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