Police ID man shot, killed in pickup truck in east Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police were investigating a homicide after responding to an assault call just before 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Heritage Park Apartments in east Charlotte. For years, the complex was known as Sandalwood Apartments.

In the middle of the parking lot on Snow Lane sat a white F-150 pickup with a shattered driver's side window. The truck has a large rig on the back loaded with boxes.

Police said that inside the truck was 50-year-old Daniel Garcia-Pablo, shot dead. Many people were sitting outside the large complex, and couldn't believe what they were witnessing. Some said they thought they heard firecrackers. Others told Channel 9 they heard the suspect speak to Garcia-Pablo before the shots were fired.

"It's terrible. I feel awful for his family. My prayers are for them," said one resident who didn't want to give her name. She saw someone speed off from the scene, and went over to the damaged truck.

"I went up to it, and the man was slumped over, and had several bullet holes in him," she said.

Another neighbor who also didn't want to be identified said he was watching from his bedroom window, and saw what the killer did.

"He walked across the street to the driver's side, and (fired) a cluster of shots. He stuck the gun over in the truck, 'pow pow pow pow pow,' and took off."

Several neighbors saw the small, gray or silver four-door car race out of the apartment complex. Police said the car also has some white in the paint over the driver's side wheel well.

So far police have not released a motive for the shooting. However, neighbors like Carolyn Shousky said he lived at the complex with his family.

"I've seen that truck every day since I moved in here, and you know that man has a family just like everybody else," she said.

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