Gunmen Shoot Dozens Of Rounds Into Block Party Crowd, Kill 2

CHARLOTTE, NC — Two people were shot dead overnight and seven injured after "several shooters" fired into a crowd gathered for a block party celebration in north Charlotte, according to police. In addition to those left injured with gunshot wounds, numerous people in the crowd were hit by vehicles as they ran from the scene.

Officers from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department were initially called to the scene near the 1800 block of Beatties Ford Road shortly after midnight Monday morning after receiving a call reporting a pedestrian hit by a vehicle.

"As officers were responding, they heard several gunshots in the immediate area," a CMPD report said. Shortly afterwards, they located a woman with a gunshot wound lying in Beatties Ford Road. She was later pronounced dead on the scene, police said.

Eight other people were also struck by gunfire in the incident, one of whom succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

"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," CMPD said.

Following the incident, five people also went to an area hospital with none-life threatening injuries, reporting that they had been hit by vehicles. "It is believed that one person was the original victim that officers were responding to, and the other four were also struck by fleeing vehicles," CMPD said.

The investigation into this case is active and ongoing, CMPD said.

Police said that anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.