CIAA: 2014 shooting incident not connected to tournament

CHARLOTTE — Shots rang out during what was publicized as a star-studded CIAA after party. The shooting happened early Sunday morning at the Sheraton in uptown.
 
"I was standing feet away from it when it happened," Witness Darrin Mims said. "Four or five gunshots go off, and everybody starts running out of the ballroom."

He said he saw "people falling on each other, stomping on each other."
 
Police told Eyewitness News when they got to the hotel on South McDowell Street around 2 a.m., two people -- a man from Las Vegas and a woman from Virginia Beach -- had been shot. One of them was rushed to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The other was treated at the scene. Police say it all started with a fight.
 
"I saw people getting agitated inside, but I didn't think anyone had a gun in there," Mims said.
 
Eyewitness News spoke with some witnesses who say they saw a lot of security at the event and others who say there should have been more. Channel 9 reached out to the Sheraton to ask about security, but they wouldn't comment.
 
CIAA officials stressed the incident was in no way related to the tournament, but rather a private party.

CMPD detectives still aren't saying what may have led to the shooting. They have reviewed evidence but have yet to make an arrest and are asking the public to come forward with information.

Anyone with info about the incident is asked to call the Crime Stoppers line at 704-334-1600.

WSOC