Someone found a body riddled with gunshot wounds in the woods of a northeast Charlotte community Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
Neighbors are working with police to piece together the crime after an overnight gunfire sent some running inside.
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Detectives from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department with the North Tryon Division are investigating crucial details that could explain what happened in the residential area.
People in the area said they heard random gunfire occasionally, but there was never a murder investigation.
However, some children in the community got an unfortunate, up-close view of the murder investigation.
“It’s very scary to know that you’re not even safe in the community where there are a lot of children around,” said 16-year-old Christopher Carbajal.
Channel 9’s Jonathan Lowe spoke to the teen with permission from his guardian.
Carbajal said he stepped outside to walk his dog Tuesday evening.
“And two minutes later I hear six or eight gunshots, one after the other,” he said.
The gunfire was close, so he didn’t stick around to see where it came from.
“I went straight back in, that was my first instinct,” he said.
Someone called CMPD the next day to report that a body had been discovered in the woods behind homes along Ann Elizabeth Drive in the Kingswood community.
“Since there are bike paths in the back, the kids usually go back there on their bikes, and one of the kids found them,” Carbajal said.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have not yet confirmed when they believe the shooting occurred.
“Right now it’s too early in the investigation, but there will be homicide investigations to get a timeline,” Major Torri Tellis said.
Channel 9 asks authorities about the victim’s identity and where they are from.
It’s a scene where Carbajal puts two and two together when it comes to what he heard Tuesday night.
“It scared me a little bit since the gunshots happened last night, so my first thought was that someone had been shot,” the teen said.
Officers scoured the community for witnesses and doorbell camera video.
Nothing was said about suspects.
This is a development story. Check back for updates.
(WATCH BELOW: Teen charged with attempted murder of 13-year-old)
