Posted on 02/15/2017 8:46:51 AM PST by Gamecock
CHARLOTTE, NC —
A newspaper carrier was found dead in the road and a second person was reportedly found wounded early Wednesday in a typically peaceful part of uptown near popular Romare Bearden Park.
Police are focusing their investigation on the 300 block of West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
The man found dead was identified as Walter “Wes” Scott Jr., 65. He lived in Lancaster County, S.C., south of Charlotte. Scott worked delivering newspapers in uptown for more than 40 years. He was under contract with a company that is also under contract to deliver The Charlotte Observer in the uptown area.
Scott delivered newspapers to sales racks and was apparently in the early part of his route at the time, having just left the warehouse at 2:06 a.m., source said.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police detectives say they received a call at 2:20 a.m. Wednesday about an assault with a deadly weapon in the 300 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
On arrival, they found a man lying in the street with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene by Medic.
Police say another man flagged down police down near W. Martin Luther King Boulevard and Tryon Street and reported he had also been shot. He was transported by Medic to Carolinas Medical Center where he is being treated for a non-life threatening gunshot wound.
Scott Upright owns the company that delivers for the Observer, and he said Scott had played various roles in the newspaper delivery business for more than 40 years. Upright said Scott was a father of four who also worked as a South Carolina state constable. State constables are certified law enforcement officers appointed by the state’s governor and regulated by the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division.
Scott had turned 65 on Feb. 2, and had been thinking of retirement in the past week, Upright said.
“He finally decided against it,” Upright said. “He told me he was a ‘lifer’ and that he’d probably deliver papers until the day he died. Those are haunting words now.”
Upright said Scott focused on delivering newspapers to uptown hotels, shops and convenience stores. Scott normally started his day between 12:30 and 1 a.m., he said.
Police had not given Upright details of what happened early Wednesday, he said. Upright said Scott was known to wear his constable badge around his neck as he delivered papers. “He didn’t hide the fact of what he did during the day,” said Upright.
At the same time, Scott was not one to go looking for trouble, Upright added.
“At 3 in morning, there are only two types of people on the street: Those who are working and those who are up to no good,” he said. “I tell my carriers that, if they see someone who doesn’t look familiar, don’t even get out of the car. Just come back later.”
12th floor resident of the nearby Catalyst, a luxury highrise apartment building, told the Observer he was awakened at about 2:15 a.m. by the sound of gunshots. The building is just across the street from where the shooting occurred.
“It was five shots, three quick ones, then two more,” said the man, who has lived in the building only five months. He asked not to be identified. “I hope this doesn’t become a trend.”
Representatives of the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Homicide Prosecution Team, Special Investigations, Homicide Support Group, and Operations Command responded to the scene.
Anyone with information is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit Detective. Detective Isenhour is the lead detective assigned to the case.
West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
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Anywhere near any street named like this is not safe in any city in America.
Is there any city where a “Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard” isn’t the nexus of crime? Even in Des Moines?
the nearby Catalyst, a luxury highrise apartment building
Hope they have armed doormen
Nothin’ good happens on, or comes out of, ANY Martin Luther King Jr.-named roadway.
I’ve lived in several cities with such named streets, and they were all the epicenters of the most gang-infested ghettos.
I call bullsh!t! "Typically peaceful" and "Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard" do not belong in the same article no matter what the city.
I was going to post “what are the betting odds” that it is one of Obama’s son’s. I would say 80% in favor.
Prayers for the late Mr. Scott’s family and friends. He sounds like he was a decent man. What a sad way to go. His killer deserves the same fate and will likely receive it, but at the hands of someone just like himself.
Scott had turned 65 on Feb. 2, and had been thinking of retirement in the past week.
Scott, I am very sad for you, went to school, probably followed the rules, worked all of your life, raised a family and about ready to enjoy the spoils of that life and a low life kills you. Rest well, and condolences to your family.
Note to self, upon retirement, find small mid west town with no MLK Blvd.
Used to call those "housing projects".
So the guy found wounded had no details about him?
Did he see any assailant? Any description thereof?
Or was he the actual shooter?
Interesting the reporter doesn’t even bring any of that up...
The Media in Charlotte only care about three things and three things only:
#1 Can transgender males use women’s restrooms?
#2 Did a white cop shoot a black man?
#3 When are Barack or Michelle coming to town again?
Avoid Martin King Blvds.
“MLK” and “FDR” for street names are two serious signs that you are in the wrong part of town.
Bedford and Forrest are two other potential signs, but many of those have been renamed.
Obama’s sons on the rampage again.
Why do so many horrible things happen on MLK Blvds. throughout America?
RIP.
MLK Blvd in Charlotte is a short strip of road, less than one mile through the downtown area, mostly office buildings, the convention center, even the NASCAR hall of fame. It was renamed from 2nd street about 10 years ago.
That being said, the skells, professional bums, and other assorted shady characters who frequent the downtown area don’t exactly make it a wonderful place to be, especially at this time of night.
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