Neighbors shocked after deadly stabbing in quiet southeast Charlotte townhome complex

A person has died after being stabbed Tuesday afternoon at a southeast Charlotte townhouse complex.

Maj. Gene Lim of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department confirmed officers were sent to the area specifically for a domestic disturbance.

“We just got a domestic violence call for this blockage,” Lim said. As officers attempted to render aid to the victim, they found a person of interest already at the scene.

Police identified the victim in this case as 75-year-old Savo Sinanovic. Further investigation revealed that the suspect in this case was 51-year-old Drazan Sinanovic. He was charged with first degree murder.

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Neighbors in the quiet residential complex reported a heavy police presence throughout the afternoon.

Community resident Ashley Ives said she noticed the emergency response from her home. “I heard the sirens, I just looked out the window and I saw them all there,” Ives said.

Ives said she saw the man being taken into custody by responding officers. “And then a little while later I saw them put handcuffs on him and take him away,” Ives said.

Claudia Burgos lives a few doors down from the unit where the stabbing took place and returned home while the investigation was underway.

“I just came back from doing some shopping and saw all this,” Burgos said. She noted that five people lived in the residence, which she described as “a father, a mother and three adult sons.”

Burgos and Ives described the home’s residents as very private people who rarely interacted with others in the complex. “They don’t talk to anyone, they barely say hello,” Burgos said.

Ives added that his only familiarity with the detained man was seeing him perform routine tasks. “The only thing I knew about him was that I always saw him here checking the mail,” Ives said. Burgos also described the man as “not really outgoing or anything like that.”

Lim encouraged anyone facing a domestic violence crisis to seek help. “We have not only police resources, but also social resources in our city, and please use them,” Lim said.

Residents in the greater Charlotte area can contact the Safe Alliance Hope Line 24 hours a day for assistance.

This is a developing story. Come back with wsoctv.com for updates.