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Man shot in same home hours after his brother, speaks out

By Jim Bradley
By Jim Bradley

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police were investigating two shootings 15 hours apart Wednesday at the same home on Carlyle Drive in west Charlotte.

The two men who were wounded are brothers, family members and friends told Channel 9.

One arrest has been made in connection to the Wednesday morning shooting, but there are still questions about the man's brother, who was shot hours later.

Police said they arrested James Jackson, 31, in the shooting of 23-year-old Brannon Beckham, which happened around 1 a.m. Beckham was shot three times, police say.

https://twitter.com/TrishWSOC9/status/656955530670419968

Shortly after that, the victim's younger brother barreled through the crime scene tape blocking a portion of the street in his vehicle and came to an erupt stop.

  • PRESS PLAY to watch car drive through police tape at shooting scene:

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department detectives drew their weapons and ordered him to put his hands up.

Beckham apologized to officers and was not charged. Later in the day, Channel 9 talked to him.

“When I came through here, I wasn't worried about the police,” Bekham said. “I was trying to see what was up with my brother.”

Beckham's ex-girlfriend said she had talked to him about his brother later in the day, before Chris was also shot.

“I just called him to make sure he was all right, then I turn around get a call that he was shot,” Cierra Barnett said.

Brannon Beckham was treated and released from the hospital, family members said. Chris Beckham was grazed by a bullet and is expected to be OK.

“As soon as I ducked like this I felt something hit me in the back,” Chris Beckham said.

He said he saw a green truck leaving the scene after the shooting, but said that man returned to the home minutes later and claimed he wasn’t the one who shot him.

“I’m from the streets. That’s where I’m from, so you got to be on point, but now it’s like I’m scared to even go around a gun,” Chris Beckham said.

He said thankfully he can still sing, and he’s hoping that talent will lead him out of a life of violence.

An anti-violence activist said the brothers recently expressed interest in his organization Team Trublue.

"These two came up to me and were like, 'We want to change our lifestyle,'" Will Adams said. "They said they wanted to start doing positive things in the community."

The Beckham brothers attended a candlelight vigil two weeks ago and Chris Beckham sang at the program, Adams said.

Chris Beckham's Facebook page is filled with videos of him singing songs but it contains no clues as to why he and his brother were shot.

Residents on Carlyle Drive are restless.

Trinitia Cofield said she has "never seen anything like this."

Adams said Team Trublue will reach out to the neighborhood hoping they can make a difference. "Something has to be said," Adams said. "And until we get together to build this village up, this is what's going to continue to happen."

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