Police arrest, charge man in Charlotte’s 100th homicide of 2020

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police have arrested and charged a man in the city’s 100th homicide of the year after a man was found shot to death inside a north Charlotte home in October.

Police were called on Oct. 28 just before 9:30 a.m. to a house on Princess Street, between North Graham Street and West Sugar Creek Road.

When officers got to the area, they found the victim, identified as 41-year-old Abel Harris, with a gunshot wound inside a house. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Channel 9 was told that a man was working on the outside of the home when he noticed a door propped open. He looked inside and found the body. Detectives think Harris was shot to death either Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.

In October, police said they were searching for a suspect who was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, black vest, dark jeans and white sneakers. The man was seen in the rear passenger seat of a 2015-2017 dark blue Toyota Camry with car factory spoke wheels, daytime running lights, tinted windows and a sunroof.

Months later, CMPD announced they identified 42-year-old Dedrick Lavon Gamble as a suspect in the case and a murder warrant was issued for his arrest.

On December 11, Gamble turned himself in to law enforcement in Sumpter, South Carolina and was extradited back to North Carolina. He has been charged for the death of Harris.

Authorities have not said what led up to the shooting.

Neighbors told Eyewitness News that tragedies like this are becoming an everyday event in Charlotte. CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings echoed that sentiment.

“It is frustrating when you start looking at the amount of homicides and just the disgrace for the sanctity of human life,” he said. “Now we’re at the point where we’re at our 100th homicide -- compared with 86 last year at this point. Obviously, very, very concerning for us.”

No other information has been released.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact 704-432-TIPS and speak with a detective.

This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

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