The early morning calm of Charlotte’s upscale SouthPark neighborhood was shattered last week when 45-year-old Dwanneich “Dee” Hammonds — a successful real estate professional, mother, and entrepreneur — was gunned down inside the parking garage of the Hazel SouthPark Apartments on Barclay Downs Drive.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers rushed to the scene shortly before 7 a.m. after receiving a call about an assault with a deadly weapon. Hammonds, found critically wounded near her vehicle, was rushed to the hospital but later died from her injuries.
Authorities confirmed that the attack appeared targeted, fueling concerns that this was no random act of violence in one of Charlotte’s most exclusive districts, a community lined with luxury condos, designer boutiques, and million-dollar homes.
A Woman Who Built Her Own Success
Friends and former colleagues remember Hammonds as a “driven professional” and “an inspiration.” Originally from New York, she had built a thriving career in real estate and spent 12 years at a Fortune 100 financial firm before expanding into property investment.
“She was a friend and an amazingly true professional,” a colleague from her real estate team in Jacksonville, Florida, told WSOC-TV. “Dee was on hiatus from real estate to pursue her RN degree and planned to return to our team soon.”
Despite her growing success, Hammonds remained grounded — a single mother raising her children while volunteering with local youth programs. Her social media reflected a woman full of life: a “foody,” an avid traveler, and a firm believer in personal reinvention.
“She was the kind of person who made you want to do better — to push harder,” the friend added. “Her grace and determination were unmatched. She will be truly missed.”
The Investigation
Detectives spent hours combing through the Hazel SouthPark complex, focusing on surveillance footage and possible access points. Residents told reporters that a security door leading into the garage may have been unlocked — a lapse now under review.
The luxury apartment complex, where units rent for upward of $3,000 per month, has since faced scrutiny over its safety measures. When Channel 9 reached out for comment, property management deferred, stating that a manager would return the call.
No suspects have been identified, and police have not disclosed a possible motive. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department or Crime Stoppers.
A City Grapples With Loss And Fear
The murder has rattled Charlotte’s SouthPark community — a neighborhood often considered a symbol of safety and affluence. For many, the killing of a woman like Hammonds, who had seemingly achieved stability and success, underscores the uncomfortable truth that violence has no postcode.
In a city grappling with rising gun-related crimes, this killing raises urgent questions about both personal safety and systemic accountability — even in Charlotte’s most secure corners.
“May justice be served for her,” Hammonds’ friend said. “Dee deserved better than this.”
As flowers and candles now line the garage entrance where she lost her life, friends, family, and former clients alike are left to remember not the violence that ended her story, but the resilience, compassion, and ambition that defined it.
