Residents shocked as police search for southwest Charlotte homicide suspect

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are searching for the person who killed a 22-year-old man who police say got a ride to a gas station, next to the community of Ayrsley, after he was shot in another, undisclosed location early Tuesday morning.

The victim was found in a car at the gas station, but that's not where police believe he was shot.

Police say after the victim was shot, someone drove them to the Circle K gas station on South Tryon Street.

If there's a neighborhood that's perfect for dog walking, it just might be Ayrsley.

"Also just has the community feel because you have the movie theater, restaurants, things like that," said Amanda Bill, who lives in Ayrsley.

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Ayrsley also seems safe.

"It's close enough to the city but also removed enough that you feel it's a touch quieter," said Bill.

Neighbors like Bill and Sean Laurin were surprised to hear that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police have a homicide investigation going on right next to Ayrsley at the Circle K gas station.

"That's shocking and that's the first I've heard of it, I've been a resident since 2018, I've never heard of any violence, every now and then you hear of a car break-in and that's kind of the norm in every neighborhood, but that's shocking," said Laurin.

Around 3:30 Tuesday morning, CMPD got the call to the Circle K on South Tryon Street.

Investigators believe the victim, 22-year-old Apree Dontell Leak, was shot at another location, but they haven't released where.

Police say Leak rode with someone to the Circle K, and while there, they flagged down paramedics.

After CMPD got to the location, investigators say Leak was rushed to the hospital, where he died.

"For me, it's just you don't see it as much in this area so that's the shocking piece," said Bill.

When we looked up the area on crimemapping.com, in the last month, we found reports of larcenies from auto, larcenies from buildings, and aggravated assaults, but no homicides.

"It's sad to hear the age and to think about somebody that has so much to life to live but even if it was somebody that's older, they still have life to live, so for me, it's just sad all around," said Bill.

Police have not released any information on whether they've identified any suspects in the homicide investigation.