On March 21, 2024, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officers responded to a call regarding an assault with a deadly weapon in the 8000 block of Scottview Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina. Upon arrival, they discovered 53-year-old Robert Long with multiple gunshot wounds; he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Preliminary investigations indicated that Long and the suspect, identified as 48-year-old Dean Antonio Tate, were known to each other, suggesting the incident was targeted. Following the shooting, Tate allegedly fired at another individual and attempted to kidnap her; however, she managed to escape unharmed.
In the early hours of March 22, 2024, CMPD officers located Tate's vehicle in southwest Charlotte. When they attempted a traffic stop, Tate fled, leading officers on a pursuit that concluded in the parking lot of the Law Enforcement Center in Uptown Charlotte. Tate was taken into custody without further incident.
Following his arrest, Tate was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, and discharging a firearm into occupied property. He was subsequently transferred to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office.
The investigation into Robert Long's death remains active and ongoing. CMPD has urged anyone with additional information to contact their Homicide Unit or provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
