CHARLOTTE — Family members of a man shot and killed early Tuesday morning outside a banquet hall in University City said he died doing what he always did, helping others.
After the shooting, Channel 9’s Miana Massey spotted Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers and investigators gathered outside the S&D Banquet Hall near East W.T. Harris Boulevard.
Police said the shooting happened around 1 a.m.
CMPD said officers found Jaelen McCormick, 20, who had been shot. MEDIC took McCormick to the hospital, where he died.
Family members don’t think he was targeted.
McCormick was best known as a gentle giant.
“Jaelen was a light to the world. He was everybody’s friend,” said Courtnie Coble, his aunt. “He was one of the biggest teddy bears you would know.”
Channel 9’s Hunter Sáenz spoke with McCormick’s two aunts over the phone.
They were devastated.
“He was a friend to all. He was out supporting a friend that night, too,” Coble said.
McCormick was helping a friend shoot a video of a pajama party at S&D Banquet Hall. He was shot in the parking lot when he went to put some footage in his car, family members said.
“It was just so heartbreaking to see this happen to him,” said Fonda Prioleau, his aunt.
McCormick graduated from South Stanly High School. He would take an Uber to and from Charlotte to work as a food technician, helping feed those in need, family members said.
“He loved just being there for those kids,” said Prioleau.
The investigation is ongoing.
“Still trying to work through all the pieces of this, interview witnesses, identify suspects and figure out the series of events that led us up to this outcome,” CMPD Maj. Ryan Kendall told Channel 9 early Tuesday.
Police haven’t said what may have led up to the shooting or have released suspect information.
This is a developing story, check back on WSOCTV.com and Eyewitness News for updates.
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