Colby Cash Smith was 18 when he was shot during a triple shooting in uptown Charlotte just after 1:30 a.m. on July 5, 2025. The incident occurred in the 200 block of North Caldwell Street near the Spectrum Center during a busy holiday weekend; police said nightlife activity left the area crowded when gunfire erupted.

Officers found two people with gunshot wounds at the scene. Gabriel Jacob Lee, 27, was pronounced dead there; Smith was rushed to Novant Health Presbyterian Hospital in critical condition and died two days later on July 7. A third victim self-transported with non-life-threatening injuries. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit canvassed the area, named a lead detective, provided a report number, and appealed for tips. Officials have not released a motive and had not announced any arrests or identified suspects in Smith’s killing as the investigation remained active.

If anyone was in uptown Charlotte on the night of July 5 and saw or heard anything that could help reconstruct what happened on North Caldwell Street, please come forward with information.