704 Unfiltered

A grieving mother is speaking out after the body of her 16-year-old son was found along a quiet road in Lincoln County over the weekend.  

Edwin Morales' family created a makeshift memorial in the area where his body was found along Whitehouse Drive in Lincolnton on Sunday. The family is left with so many unanswered questions and is trying to wrap their heads around what happened to him. 

Surrounded by photos, flowers and candles of devotion, Yuridia Morales' love burns bright. She says Edwin was more than just her son, he was a brother, a cousin and a friend. He was a light to those around him and will be terribly missed.  

"It's so that we can remember the person that he was," she said. "We pray that his soul can live in peace."

The 16-year-old's body was found about a mile from his home. Lincoln County detectives are investigating the case as a possible homicide. Now, his mother's faith is being tested as she stands in the middle of tragedy following his unexpected death.

Read more:  https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/edwin-morales-teen-found-dead-lincoln-county-homicide-family-grieving-mother-seeks-justice/275-9fb6a174-0663-42b9-abc0-7885d9f05016

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Tuesday, the Gastonia City Council is set to vote on a new crime-fighting tool that uses cameras and license plate readers to help police solve crimes faster.

The project would be funded by a federal grant, and the police department said the system would allow officers to detect suspect vehicles in real-time, consolidate video feeds, and access a network of nearly 6,000 cameras shared across agencies.

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Emergency crews battled a large fire at the Webb Road Flea Market in Salisbury early Sunday morning, officials said.  

The Bostian Heights Fire Department responded to a reported fire at the market around 4 a.m. When crews arrived, they saw heavy smoke coming from one of the buildings.  

Crews were able to extinguish the fire by 7:30 a.m. Joey Popp, the market's communications director, told WCNC Charlotte that Building B was the only part of the market that burned. According to Popp, no one was on the property at the time of the fire. Fire officials are now investigating to determine the cause. It's still unclear how much damage was caused. 

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/webb-road-flea-market-salisbury-north-carolina/275-179fdf50-0942-4762-a909-b68f0724af1b

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Two people were seriously injured in separate shootings overnight in Charlotte. The first incident happened in Uptown, not far from Spectrum Center. The second shooting was on Nations Ford Road near I-77 in southwest Charlotte. Both victims suffered life-threatening injuries, according to Medic. 

Meanwhile, President-elect Trump is preparing for his inauguration and second term in the White House. NBC's Brie Jackson has the latest from Washington, where Trump's administration is taking shape. Story: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/trump-will-be-honored-as-times-person-of-the-year-and-ring-the-new-york-stock-exchange-bell/507-e51cd464-eb9e-4e92-90ed-111ac881c476

Plus, Bill Belichick is officially North Carolina's new head football coach. The eight-time Super Bowl champion was formally introduced on Thursday. WCNC Charlotte hears from Tar Heel fans and UNC students about the exciting announcement. Story: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/ncaa/ncaaf/bill-belichick-university-of-north-carolina-football-introductory-news-conference/275-ea1db487-3dfc-4256-92ab-0cac0a402884

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In one of the biggest surprise coaching hires, NFL legend Bill Belichick was named the next head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels on Wednesday. Belichick, who won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, signed a five-year contract to replace Mack Brown, who was fired before the end of the 2024 season. Gov. Roy Cooper reacts to Belichick's hiring as pro and college fans are still stunned that Belichick is taking his first NCAA job. 

STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/ncaa/ncaaf/bill-belichick-unc-football-coaching-search/275-3fdff036-b382-43b7-8c04-1c2a56f82df2

Efforts to fight inflation hit a wall in November, new data shows. Ben Thompson connects the dots on the Consumer Price Index and its impacts on the U.S. economy as federal officials search for new solutions to lower prices for Americans. 

FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/connect-the-dots/consumer-price-index-report-inflation-us-economy/275-9e224aea-b2f0-48d9-80ee-48f2bb0ee88a

Plus, Larry Sprinkle has the latest Weather Impact forecast for the Charlotte region. it's going to be a chilly day in the Queen City as we prepare for a cool weekend. The good news? There's no rain in sight after a soggy week across the Carolinas. 

FORECAST: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/forecast/charlotte-weather-forecast-update/275-50501550

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police announced a new initiative aimed at increasing the visibility of officers and reducing crimes in all parts of the Queen City.  

The operation is a new take on Operation Heartbeat, which ran from 2022-23. As part of the program, officers will shine steady blue lights from police vehicles to increase visibility.  

The initiative was renewed by CMPD's Central Division last week, helping citizens feel safer as they come into Uptown, the department said. 

"One of the things that we hear from the community is that they want to see their police officers," Lt. Kevin Pietrus said. "When they see police officers, it helps them feel safe. We want to meet our community where they are."

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/charlotte-mecklenburg-police-new-initiative-reduce-crime-uptown/275-47609b34-308d-473b-b274-4ce88bf38285

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All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

A 12-year-old who was shot following a "large street fight" on Saturday evening has died, Monroe Police confirmed.  

Monroe Police responded to a reported shooting on Skywatch Lane, which is just off MLK Jr. Boulevard, around 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 7. When officers arrived, they found a 12-year-old who had been shot. The child, identified as Messiah Barrino, was taken to a Charlotte-area hospital where he died from his injuries. 

WCNC spoke with a neighbor who knew the victim.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/juveniles-hurt-monroe-shooting/275-0766de9b-9c43-4578-81ce-37d8f19cc3cb 

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All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

Charlotte city leaders are taking a big step to address air traffic near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which could mean more noise in some Charlotte neighborhoods. 

WCNC Charlotte's Destiny Richards is breaking down what to expect from Monday's meetings. 

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The championship game for the Atlantic Coast Conference has arrived.

On Dec. 7, the Clemson Tigers will take on the Mustangs of Southern Methodist University, visiting from Dallas. The 20th Championship Game will kick off at 8 p.m. Eastern at Bank of America Stadium in Uptown Charlotte.

The Tigers are ranked No. 12 nationally. Overall on the season, they're 9-3 and finished 7-1 in ACC play. SMU is 11-1 overall and finished 8-0 in conference play.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/college/acc-championship-fan-fest-uptown-charlotte-clemson-southern-methodist-university/275-790d2871-3bac-4578-9dde-e659456e8d5a

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  
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All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

Two people have died and a third person was hurt after a shooting at a smoke shop in Rock Hill, according to the Rock Hill Police Department. One person has been arrested.  

Police responded to Budiman's Smokeshop & Art Gallery on Cherry Road around 9:40 p.m. Wednesday after reports that shots had been fired. As officers drove to the scene, they learned the suspect was a white man in a silver Dodge.  

When they got there, officers saw the man get in a truck with a gun and drive north on Cherry Road before crashing at the bridge over the Catawba River.  

Officers confronted the man when he got out of the truck, Rock Hill Police say. At one point, an officer fired their gun at the man but did not hit him. The man then charged toward officers and officers used a stun gun on him, and officers said there was a physical struggle. 

LATEST:  https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/rock-hill-police-investigation/275-020c62a5-8fcc-488b-b383-38231006b1de

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  
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All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.