Wednesday night drivers on Central Avenue suddenly found themselves crawling past blue lights and crime-scene tape after gunfire erupted near Rosehaven Drive in east Charlotte. Around 8 p.m., shots were fired outside a nearby apartment complex, and medics said one person was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Officials had not released a full public narrative by early Thursday.
According to WCCB Charlotte, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police shut down lanes on Central Avenue near Rosehaven Drive while a crime-scene investigator collected what appeared to be shell casings in front of the Woodford Apartments. MEDIC told the station crews found one person with non-life-threatening injuries who had not been shot. The report noted that CMPD did not respond to the station's request for a public narrative.
What crews found at the scene
Responders stayed on scene into the night, working to gather evidence and gradually reopen the roadway. Witnesses reported a heavy emergency presence in the area, with patrol cars blocking traffic and investigators combing the pavement outside the apartment complex. The visible scene of officers, tape and evidence markers lined up with the account filed from WCCB's on-scene reporting.
Central Avenue context
Central Avenue ranks among east Charlotte's busiest corridors, a stretch where residents have grown used to sudden closures tied to serious crashes and police activity. In February, a late-night wreck on the same thoroughfare quickly turned the commute into a shutdown as investigators worked the scene. A Hoodline report on that incident, titled Late-Night Central Avenue Crash, highlighted how fast the artery can grind to a halt when first responders move in.
How to help investigators
Anyone who saw the incident or captured it on phone or security cameras is urged to hold onto that footage and contact detectives. Per the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, anonymous tips can be shared with Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or through the Crime Stoppers website. Investigators are expected to release more details as the case develops.
