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Police report says man found dead by jogger was stabbed

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police identified the man who they said was the victim of a homicide Thursday morning on the east side of town.

[PHOTOS: CMPD investigates east Charlotte homicide]

[READ MORE: Charlotte homicide rate down nearly 50 percent from 2017]

Officers responded around 6:45 a.m. to Milton Road at The Plaza after a jogger discovered the victim partially behind a dumpster along the side of the road.

That victim, Jose Mario Chicas, 51, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Circumstances surrounding the death have not been released but a police report said Chicas had suffered stab wounds.

Detectives were canvassing the area to see if there were witnesses to the crime.

"If you leave the house and the sun (is) down, you need to be looking behind you,” said Donald Moore, who lives nearby.

Two lanes of Milton Road were blocked while police investigated.

"It's really scary because I come over here all the time,” said nearby resident Sarah Masueni. “I do my laundry right there. I literally come to the store for sodas.”

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a homicide unit detective.