CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Authorities announced a 22-year-old as the victim of the first murder in Charlotte in 2017.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police identified Natanael Rodriguez as the victim in a shooting early Monday morning. He was found at the M-Station Apartments off Monroe Road suffering from gunshot wounds shortly after midnight.
"I heard the four bangs in succession," Aaron Ward who lives on the floor above where the shooting happened said. "Then I heard something like a door slam or something fall to the ground."
MEDIC rushed Rodriguez to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
IMAGES: CMPD investigating first homicide of 2017
"I guess maybe 10 or 15 minutes after [first responders] were here they wheeled a gentleman out, he didn't look good," Ward said.
Detectives said they believe Rodriguez and the shooter knew each other; however, police have not said who they believe that person is.
The homicide, just 24 hours into the New Year, comes after a spike in homicides in 2016.
Authorities said there were 67 homicides in Charlotte last year, the highest number since 2008. The number was up from 60 homicides in 2015.
Will Adams with anti-violence organization Team True Blue said it's frustrating.
"I thought we were on the decline -- and then the last few months is when it actually escalated," Adams said.
Adams said more resources need to be dedicated to groups like his which work with children face-to-face.
"We need help, we need more resources, we need more volunteers to come join the force to come get out here on the front line," Adams said. "People are finding ways to want to be angry or upset or pull the trigger."
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