CMPD makes arrests in 2 homicides that happened less than 2 hours apart

CHARLOTTE — CMPD detectives began conducting two separate homicide investigations Friday night.

Police responded to LaSalle Street in the area of Newland Road in north Charlotte, where someone was pronounced dead, CMPD tweeted around 4:20 p.m.

CMPD said it started with a shootout between two vehicles on LaSalle Street.

The victim in this case has been identified as 28-year-old Cedric Kirkland. His family has been notified of his death. Homicide detectives ask anyone with information about this case to leave it anonymously with @CLTCrimeStopper. pic.twitter.com/PZ49jiULLI
— CMPD News (@CMPD) January 30, 2021

Police said one of the cars crashed into a tree in the front yard of a home on LaSalle Street. The driver, 28-year-old Cedric Kirkland, was pronounced deceased on scene by MEDIC.

Homicide detectives responded, but initially said it was a death investigation. After gathering further information, it was determined the death was a homicide.

After the collision, police said they were looking for the other vehicle involved. They said they had video and witness accounts, but they were not prepared to give out a preliminary suspect-vehicle description.

“For the community, for the victim, for their family, we have the responsibility to be that thorough, so we can get it right,” CMPD Maj. Ryan Butler said. “We only get one chance at it. That small thing could make the difference in the investigation.”

Days later, police announced they had arrested 24-year-old George Winston for the murder of Kirkland.

Officers said throughout the investigation, they identified the vehicle of interest and coordinated with patrol officers across the city to search for it. Officers were able to find the unoccupied vehicle, which led to several interviews.

After the interviews, Winston was identified as a suspect and arrested. He has been charged with murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle.

Officers have now closed a lane on LaSalle- right off of I-77 as part of this investigation. CMPD is investigating the latest homicide. We’re live from the scene at 5pm. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/TS2yyu5WG5
— Genevieve Curtis (@GenevieveWSOC9) January 29, 2021

Riverbirch Drive homicide

Police have also identified the victim of second homicide that happened earlier Friday in south Charlotte.

Officers said they responded to an assault call just before 2:30 p.m. on Riverbirch Drive off of Sharon Road West. They said they found Divante Brown with an “apparent trauma.”