Kenneth Edwards

Those who knew Kenneth Bernard Edwards, called "Kenny" by his loved ones, remember a kindhearted and genuine young man with a bright smile who always kept them laughing. Friends described him as "cool and the realest I've ever met." In an online tribute, one person recalled his unforgettable big hugs and promised to cherish their memories forever. Another wrote, "You were genuine and that's hard to come across nowadays." At 23 years old, the African-American man had his whole life ahead of him, a life that was tragically cut short on a cold Sunday night in west Charlotte.

The evening of December 3, 2017, was shattered by violence just before 9:30 p.m. Officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Freedom Division responded to a 911 call reporting an assault with a deadly weapon on the 4400 block of Roadway Street, near Cantwell Street. When they arrived, they found Kenneth Edwards suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics were called to the scene, but there was nothing they could do. Kenneth was pronounced deceased right there on the street. His death marked the city of Charlotte's 81st homicide in what was a particularly violent year.

Detectives from the CMPD Homicide Unit immediately began an investigation, canvassing the neighborhood for evidence and witnesses. Detective Collins was assigned as the lead on the case. Investigators worked to determine what led to the shooting and whether Kenneth knew his attacker. For months, the case remained without a public breakthrough, leaving a family and community searching for answers. The initial phase of the investigation concluded with no arrests announced.

Then, nine months later, on September 5, 2018, the CMPD announced a significant development. They arrested three men in connection with Kenneth's murder. Calvin Vance, 24, Naytrone Adams, 20, and Tobias Partlow, 24, were taken into custody without incident. All three were charged with murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, suggesting the motive was a robbery that escalated to fatal violence. It seemed as though justice for Kenneth was finally within reach.

However, the case took an unexpected turn a year after the arrests. In September 2019, the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office dismissed all charges against Vance, Adams, and Partlow. The murder charges were dismissed "without leave," meaning they cannot be refiled, and the dismissal was made without any plea agreements. The reasons for this decision have not been made public, leaving the circumstances surrounding Kenneth's death officially unresolved and his killer or killers not held accountable.

Tragically, the Edwards family would endure another devastating loss four years later. On Christmas Day 2021, Kenneth's older brother, 28-year-old Fred Edwards, was shot and killed in a triple shooting on Beatties Ford Road, compounding the family's grief. A celebration of Kenneth's life was held on December 9, 2017, at Tabernacle Baptist Church, where family and friends gathered to mourn the young man who was gone too soon but had a long life left to live.

As of the latest reports from December 2023, the murder of Kenneth Edwards remains unsolved. The investigation is still considered open by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call the Homicide Unit directly at 704-432-TIPS. To remain anonymous, tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.