Police arrest man for murder in uptown stabbing

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A busy stretch of road leading into uptown Charlotte was closed Thursday morning while police conducted a homicide investigation, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

College Street was blocked between 11th Street and 12th Street and a large police presence could be seen under the Interstate 277 bridge.

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CMPD told Channel 9's Gina Esposito it was investigating the death as a homicide after finding 62-year-old Diane McLelland stabbed to death.

Later Thursday, CMPD's Violent Crime Apprehension Team lead an effort to arrest James William Curry, taking him into custody at approximately 6 p.m.

Curry, 55, is charged with first-degree murder.

Officers said they believed McLelland may have been sleeping under the bridge.

Authorities told Channel 9 that officers in CMPD's Central Division have worked to prevent this type of violence by talking to the homeless population in uptown.

It is unknown if the victim and the suspect knew each other. No arrests have been made.

The death mark's the city's 50th homicide of 2019.

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