CHARLOTTE, N.C. — John Michael Copeland, 55, has been arrested and charged for the murder of a man just north of uptown Charlotte.
Police said Copeland was located and arrested in Newark, New Jersey, following a multi-agency effort. Copeland will ultimately be transferred to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, pending his extradition.
According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, officers responded to a shooting in the 1700 block of Rush Wind Drive, near Oaklawn Avenue and I-77. When police got to the scene, they found a man in the backyard of a home who had been shot.
The victim was identified as 29-year-old Mario Witherspoon. He was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders.
Investigators have not released any suspect information at this time or announced any arrests. Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call 704-432-TIPS to speak with a homicide detective, or you can call the anonymous Crime Stoppers line at 704-334-1600.
CMPD has investigated numerous shootings in Charlotte this month, including:
- 21-year-old shot, killed in east Charlotte
- CMPD: Two shot in north Charlotte
- 16-year old shot, killed in north Charlotte Sunday morning
- Suspect charged with murder after man shot, killed in east Charlotte Saturday night
- 1 person shot near Garinger High School
- Charlotte police respond to two shooting calls within one hour
- Man charged in deadly triple shooting at southeast Charlotte apartment complex
- Teen arrested for shooting innocent bystander in uptown Charlotte near restaurant fire
In August, CMPD launched a violent crimes task force. Within its first two weeks, they made nine arrests and seized seven guns, including four guns that were stolen. CMPD Captain Rob Dance said investigative teams are proactively sharing information about dangerous suspects with patrol units.
RELATED: CMPD addresses homicide rate after violent weekend brings Charlotte to 85 homicides this year
“Each situation in which our work, our arrests [have] prevented a homicide, those are very difficult to count,” Captain Dance said.
