BREAKING: 9 Shot, 5 Struck By Cars, 2 Dead In North Carolina

Charlotte, NC – Two people were fatally shot, seven were wounded by gunfire, and another five were injured when they were hit by cars just after midnight at a block party in Charlotte.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Deputy Chief Johnny Jennings said police responded to the scene on Beatties Ford Road near Catherine Simmons Avenue at about 12:30 a.m. on June 22 for a report of person struck by a vehicle, WRAL reported.

When police arrived on the scene, there were hundreds of people still gathered for an “impromptu block party” that had gone on all weekend celebrating Juneteenth.

“Several people got into the streets. It was a continuation,” Deputy Chief Jennings, who is about to become police chief, said. “They had a celebration here that was planned and organized earlier this week on Friday that just continued on into tonight. The results of it got out of hand.”

“It was something that we never want to see as a community or a police department. It is very unfortunate,” he added.

Gunfire erupted right after police and medics responded to the scene for the person who was hit by a car, according to WSOC.

More than 20 police vehicles and multiple fire and medic units responded to the scene, WBTV reported.

Officers found one woman lying in the roadway with fatal gunshot wounds.

She was pronounced dead at the scene, WSOC reported.

A second person who was wounded by gunfire was transported to the hospital but later died.

Seven more people were shot and wounded, WRAL reported.

WBTV reported that five of the gunshot victims had been hospitalized with serious injuries.

Officials said five people were struck by cars, according to WSOC.

Their injuries were minor, WBTV reported.

One of those hit by a car was the original victim that police and EMS had responded to the scene for, and another four victims were hit as they tried to run to safety after the shooting began.

Officials said there were hundreds of people and vehicles clogging the streets when police and ambulances arrived on the scene, WSOC reported.

“Preliminary information gathered during the investigation indicates that several shooters discharged dozens of shots in to the crowd who had been gathered in the area,” police said, according to WBTV.

Authorities had no leads on suspected shooters as of Monday morning.

Charlotte City Councilman Malcolm Graham, who represents the area where the incident occurred, said he was really sad about the shootings because that area had made so much progress, WSOC reported.

“This does not define us, but is certainly something very tragic,” Graham said. “What happened last night in the city and on that corner, which has a history of being self-sufficient, a lot of good work going on by neighborhood leaders and organizations. Last night certainly won’t define who we are, but certainly it is giving cause for concern about how we conduct ourselves.”

Several witnesses told WBTV that they had seen street racing and drivers doing donuts in the middle of the road shortly before gunfire erupted.

#Breaking: CMPD says 9 people were shot, including 2 dead after a shooting on Beatties Ford Rd after midnight. 5 people also hurt after hit by cars leaving the scene. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/eKptxkja8F

— Gina Esposito (@GinaWSOC9) June 22, 2020

#BreakingNews
A very hectic scene on Beatties Ford Rd near Catherine Simmons. There are over 20 CMPD vehicles on scene and multiple medic and fire units are also here.@WBTV_News pic.twitter.com/U49gD4BTPH

— Taylor Simpson WBTV (@TaylorSimpsonTV) June 22, 2020

Family members of one of a deceased victim just told me they are devastated to lose a loved daughter/niece, right after Father’s Day, in this senseless violence. They say they just buried a sister in January and this is too much. @WBTV_News pic.twitter.com/xgI69rGJ28

— Anne Marie Hagerty (@AnneMarieWBTV) June 22, 2020

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