On July 8, 2024, at approximately 5:30 a.m., Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officers responded to reports of a disabled vehicle on Rea Road, between Interstate 485 and Piper Glen Drive in south Charlotte. Upon arrival, they discovered 36-year-old Derrick Byas, a military veteran, deceased from a gunshot wound near his vehicle, which was found with its hazard lights on.
Investigators determined that minutes before his death, Byas had been at a bar, seen on surveillance footage speaking on the phone about meeting someone. Approximately 15 minutes after leaving the bar, he was fatally shot in the head along Rea Road. Utilizing license plate readers and cellphone data, detectives identified 41-year-old Eric Watson as a suspect, placing him at the scene during the time of the shooting.
On July 17, 2024, with assistance from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, CMPD's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) arrested Watson in South Carolina. He was charged with murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon and subsequently extradited to Mecklenburg County, where he was held without bond.
Byas' family, including his brother Dwan, expressed relief at the arrest but continue to seek answers regarding the motive behind the killing. Dwan described Derrick as intelligent, respectful, and a joyful presence, noting his honorable military service. The investigation remains active, with authorities urging anyone with additional information to contact CMPD's Homicide Unit or Crime Stoppers.
