Overnight gunfire near Romare Bearden Park jolted Uptown Charlotte early Sunday, leaving two people in the hospital and two others in custody after officers on curfew patrol heard shots just after midnight.
Both shooting victims were taken to local hospitals with what police described as non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Officers quickly moved in on the area, finding the injured as well as the suspected shooters, and briefly sealed off the park so detectives and crime-scene technicians could process the scene and collect evidence.
Police response and on-scene work
According to a news release from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Central Division detectives responded to a "Shots Fired Assault with a Deadly Weapon" call near the park at about midnight on Sunday. CMPD says officers located two people who had sustained gunshot wounds, began providing initial treatment at the scene, and MEDIC transported the victims to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
The department also reported that officers quickly located and apprehended suspects and that a firearm was recovered at the scene.
Charges reported
Local reporting by Queen City News says two people have been charged in connection with the incident, citing CMPD. The outlet adds that detectives continue to gather evidence as they build the case.
Romare Bearden Park's safety record
Romare Bearden Park, the five-acre green space at 300 S. Church St. across from Truist Field, has been the site of several shootings in recent years, prompting city and police attention to crowd safety at large events, according to reporting by the Charlotte Observer. City leaders and law-enforcement officials have repeatedly pointed to the challenges of policing crowded public spaces in Uptown, especially during festivals and games.
Chief Patterson lauds patrols
Chief Estella Patterson praised the speed of the patrols that led to the arrests and said the department will maintain a strong presence in the area through the summer. "I am extremely grateful for our officers who were proactively patrolling the area and were able to identify the suspects quickly," Patterson said.
How to help investigators
The investigation is active and anyone with information is asked to call CMPD detectives at 704-432-8477 or leave an anonymous tip via Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or the P3 Tips mobile app. Detectives assigned to the case list report number 20260614-0007-00 and say footage or other evidence can be shared with Detective Vaught.
