South Charlotte Homicide Updated

South Charlotte is not normally a location you'd expect to find a homicide investigation. So my drive in to work this morning was a surprise from the start.

I can deal with idiot drivers, but a dozen CMPD marked and unmarked SUV's and the news media blocking traffic is a little much.

According to WSOC news A homicide investigation got underway Monday morning in south Charlotte, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said.

The trouble with WSOC is they call the street "Read Road" and claim that the road was closed. Neither are correct.

According to one neighbor the car had been stopped in the road with the flashers on since around 12:45 am.

According to WSOC reports are that Police were called around 5:30 a.m. for a disabled vehicle.

Seems the vehicle in question with Colorado tags may have been parked in the Northbound lane of Rea Road between I-485 and Piper Glen Drive sometime before midnight.

Once on the scene CMPD Officers quickly determined that there was a victim and the victim was deceased. 

CMPD has identified the deceased as 36 year old Derrick Byas.

Photo MCSO April 2023

The official statement from CMPD:

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit are conducting a homicide investigation in the 7300 block of Rea Road in the South Division.

On Monday, July 8, shortly before 5:30 a.m., officers responded to a vehicle disabled call for service in the 7300 block of Rea Road.  Upon arrival, officers discovered a victim with a gunshot wound. MEDIC pronounced the victim deceased on the scene.

Homicide Unit detectives responded to the scene to conduct an investigation, and Crime Scene Search responded to process the scene and collect physical evidence. Representatives from CMPD’s Operations Command, Victim Services and CFD also assisted.

The investigation into this case is active and ongoing. As additional information develops, it will be released by the CMPD’s Public Affairs Office. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit detective. Detective Buhr is the lead detective assigned to this case. 

Update 7/19/2024

Eric Anthony Watson age 42 was processed into the Mecklenburg County jail this morning after being transported from Lancaster, South Carolina.

Photo MCSO July 19, 2024

Watson an Indian Land resident is charged in the robbery and murder of Derrick Byas age 36 last Monday on Rea Road near the I-485 Exit.

Update According to CMPD:

On July 8th, 2024, Officers responded to the intersection of Rea Rd. and I-485 in reference to disabled vehicle call for service. Upon arriving and inspecting the surrounding area, the victim was located deceased in the woods off the side of Rea Rd. The victim's vehicle was parked in the right travel lane with the hazard lights on.

Detectives observed gunshot wound to the left side of the victim's head. discharged cartridge case was located in the victim's vehicle, and another was located next to the victim's body.

The victim's friends and family stated he is known to carry two cell phones. The victim's friends and family provided different phone numbers that had been used to contact the victim previously. Detectives searched did not locate the victim's cell phones, wallet, or keys to the vehicle at the scene.

Detectives obtained phone records on the three numbers provided by the victim's family. The victim was located at bar/club known as The Peace Pipe just prior to the incident. 

The victim's friends and family advised the victim took an emergency call and left abruptly to go and meet someone. The victim left the bar/club and approximately 2330 hrs. on July 7th, 2024.

Detectives reviewed the victim's records for one of the numbers and located call with 410-598-2773 at approximately 2318 hrs. on July 7th, 2024. Detectives obtained audio and video from the bar/club that captures the victim on the phone at approximately 2318 hrs. The victim is speaking about exchanging locations with someone and coming to meet them while on speakerphone. The victim leaves at approximately 2330 hrs. The victim's records show one of the numbers remained at the bar/club and the other numbers traveled from the bar/club and arrived at the scene at around the time of the incident. 

Witnesses in the neighborhood of the incident heard shots occurring at around the time of the victim's arrival at approximately 2345 hrs.

A silver sedan is seen leaving the scene with the hazard lights on toward Rea Rd. and Piper Glen Dr. shortly after the shots are heard. The vehicle makes U-turn and heads towards I-485. 

The victim's records show the two phone numbers he traveled to the scene with leave the scene and travel down Johnston Rd. outbound from 1-485. The records are consistent with vehicle located on Real Time Crime Center cameras that is also consistent with the vehicle leaving the scene. This vehicle passes through FLOCK cameras and SC Tag: 830 ADG was captured. The two phone numbers that leave the scene eventually turn off.

The tag comes back to 2020 dark gray Lexus IS300 registered to female at 848 Kathy Dianne Dr., Fort Mill, SC 29707. Detectives researched 410-598-2773 and found it was associated with Eric Watson in database available to law enforcement. Eric Watson lives at 848 Kathy Dianne Dr., Fort Mill, SC 29707.

Detectives obtained phone records for 410-598-2773. The records show that the phone number was in the location of the incident at around the time of the incident. 410-598-2773 has several records in the area of 848 Kathy Dianne Dr., Fort Mill, SC 29707.

Detectives are seeking charges for Murder and Robbery with Dangerous Weapon. 

Watson is currently being held without bond. His next court date in Monday July 22, 2024 at 10:00 AM.

Update July 22 2024 13:14 Judge Jennifer Fleet denied bond for the defendant and bound him over to August 8th a little more than two weeks. Apparently the heat she got from releasing a rapist and murderer had at least a small impression on her.