Police investigate homicide after man found dead in Charlotte driveway

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An 18-year-old man was found dead in the driveway of his home around 3:40 a.m. Saturday, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said.

Police said the body of Jaqual Bennett was found in the 1800 block of Village Lake Drive.

Detectives originally called it a death investigation, but medical examiners later ruled the death as Charlotte's 77th homicide of the year.

Authorities said there were almost no signs indicating a homicide.

A neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said investigators woke him up by knocking on his door and searching for clues.

The woman who found Bennett told Channel 9 she didn’t realize he was hurt. She also said he became a father two months ago.

“It's always tragic,” said a neighbor whose brother died last week. “We really need to reach out to the young people so they can stop killing each other and stop hurting each other. We can only do that if we stick together as a community.”

This is an ongoing, active investigation. CMPD will release further information as this case develops.

Cox Media Group