Authorities in Charlotte have announced they've made two arrests in the case of Zach Finch, a 21-year-old college baseball player who was shot and killed on Father's Day in a cell phone deal gone bad.
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The shocking part — the suspects are a pair of 15-year-old boys.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, on its Facebook page, announced that it has arrested one teenager on suspicion of murder. WSOC-TV noted that the department later arrested a second 15-year-old, and authorities are searching for others who may have been involved in the incident.
Since the suspects are juveniles, police did not release their names.
Finch, using the LetsGo app, made a deal to buy a cell phone, and when he showed up to buy it, he was robbed. When he tried to run away, he was shot in the back and killed, his brother said investigators told him. The account of what happened was broadcast in a report on WCNC-TV, and other media in the Charlotte, N.C., area.
Finch was listed as a pitcher for the University of Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Ky. The Cumberland team placed the following on its website:
University of the Cumberlands (UC) mourns the loss of student-athlete, Zachary Finch. Finch was killed in a shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday, June 18, 2017. He was a senior at Cumberlands and a member of the Patriots baseball team.
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Zach Finch," said UC President Larry Cockrum. "Zach was an incredible young man with a very bright future. We ask the entire Cumberlands family to join in praying for Zach's family and friends during this terribly difficult time."
"Zach was an amazing young man who always had a smile on his face," said Emily Coleman, Vice President for Student Services. "His smile was infectious and always brightened up a room. Zach went out of his way to say hello to others; he was a joy to be around. He will be deeply missed by our campus community."
"We are absolutely heartbroken over the death of Zach," said Brad Shelton, Head Coach for UC Baseball. "Zach was a member of our program for three years. He was kindhearted, intelligent and well spoken. His teammates and I loved him. Please pray for his family in this difficult time."
It was the second time an athlete was shot and killed during a transaction within the last month.
High school football player Brian Brown, who was about to start his college playing career in California, was shot dead as he was selling video games he advertised on Craigslist. Brown placed an ad on Craigslist, and when he went to complete the sale, he was shot three times in the back. His girlfriend drove him to the hospital, but he died.
