On December 24, 2020, Katherine Roxana Lopez Cruz, a 16-year-old Hispanic female, was tragically killed in a shooting incident in Charlotte, North Carolina. The incident occurred during a Christmas Eve party in the East Charlotte neighborhood. At approximately 10:45 p.m., Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers responded to reports of a shooting near the 6600 block of Olde Savannah Road.
Upon arrival, officers discovered three victims with apparent gunshot wounds and an additional victim with a laceration. Katherine Roxana Lopez Cruz was pronounced dead at the scene, while another victim, 13-year-old Michelle Avila Robles, also succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. The third gunshot wound victim remained hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
The chaotic shooting incident resulted in multiple injuries, with several people being shot and two individuals sustaining head injuries. The party, which was taking place at a residence, turned into a scene of panic as shots rang out, causing people to flee the home. Alcohol was believed to have played a role in the motive behind the shooting. Despite the severity of the incident, no arrests have been made in connection with the deaths of Katherine Roxana Lopez Cruz and Michelle Avila Robles. The investigation into the double homicide and triple shooting remains ongoing, with detectives working to identify and apprehend the perpetrators responsible for the tragic loss of these young lives.
The deaths of Katherine Roxana Lopez Cruz and Michelle Avila Robles were part of a series of violent incidents in Charlotte during that period. The city experienced a surge in homicides, with 121 reported cases in 2020, compared to 107 in the previous year. The community was left reeling from the senseless violence, and the families of the victims were notified of their tragic losses. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg police continue to seek information and leads to bring justice to the victims and their families.
