CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Some moments change everything, leaving behind a silence that words can never truly fill.
Manuel De Jesus Martinez, 33, lost his life in an early-morning shooting in Uptown Charlotte on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police responded shortly before 4 a.m. to the 700 block of West Trade Street following a report of an assault with a deadly weapon. Officers found Martinez suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, and MEDIC pronounced him dead at the scene.
The tragedy has left family, friends and those who knew Manuel mourning a life that ended far too soon.
Police later identified 36-year-old Tyrell Deshawn Valentine as a suspect in the shooting. Valentine was located and arrested in Union County, South Carolina, by SLED, the Union County Sheriff's Office and CMPD's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team. He faces a murder charge and is expected to be extradited to Mecklenburg County.
The circumstances that led to the shooting remain under investigation. Authorities have not publicly established a motive.
For those who knew Manuel, his life was about more than the circumstances of his death. He was a person with family, friendships, memories and a future that was suddenly taken away.
As investigators continue working to establish what happened, loved ones are left to remember Manuel for the life he lived and the people whose lives he touched.
May Manuel De Jesus Martinez rest in peace, and may his family, friends and loved ones find strength and comfort during this difficult time. 🕯️
