CHARLOTTE — A Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Schools employee is behind bars, accused of shooting and killing his wife inside their northwest Charlotte home early Monday morning.
According to the Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Department, 61‑year‑old Eddie McCollum has been charged with first‑degree murder in the death of 58‑year‑old Pastor Tammy McCollum.
His bond was set at $1 million during his first court appearance on Tuesday.
[ READ MORE >> Domestic violence suspected in northwest Charlotte homicide ]
Tammy McCollum, a beloved pastor at The Well Worship Center in Statesville, had delivered an Easter Sunday sermon just hours before she was killed.
Friends and members of her faith community have been posting tributes online, expressing shock and heartbreak over her death.
According to court documents, Eddie McCollum called 911 shortly after 2 a.m. Monday and told dispatchers he shot his wife during an argument.
He also told police the gun used in the shooting was left on the stairs inside the home. Investigators say he repeated the same account when officers arrived.
CMPD officials said they are not searching for any additional suspects.
The district confirmed that Eddie McCollum has worked for Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Schools since 2023, most recently as a teacher assistant for exceptional children at Southwest Middle School in Steele Creek. He has been suspended with pay.
CMPD records show no prior calls for service at the McCollum home in the past year aside from Monday’s shooting.
Police are urging anyone experiencing domestic violence, or anyone concerned about a loved one, to reach out for help.
The Safe Alliance Hope Line serves the greater Charlotte area and is available 24 hours a day.