On Sunday morning, February 15, 2026, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers responded to a 911 call around 6 a.m. in the 700 block of Lawton Road in northwest Charlotte, North Carolina. The caller reported seeing a woman lying on the ground and not moving. When first responders arrived, they discovered 33-year-old Tabulon Debreshea Reece suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. She was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after their arrival.
Investigators quickly identified Nicholas Jordan Gandy, 37, Reece’s longtime boyfriend, as the primary suspect. According to police reports, Gandy was taken into custody by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team. He was later interviewed by homicide detectives at the Law Enforcement Center before being formally charged with murder.
Family members told detectives that Reece and Gandy had gone out together the night before to a nightclub off North Graham Street in Charlotte. Reece had posted a Snapchat story from the club just hours before her death. She left home driving her Honda Accord, and it was after this outing that the tragic incident unfolded.
Court documents revealed that Gandy and Reece were in a long-term relationship, and the events of that night marked a devastating end to what had been described as a troubled partnership. Detectives pieced together the timeline, noting that the couple’s night out preceded the fatal shooting discovered early the next morning.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department confirmed that the homicide occurred within its Freedom Division jurisdiction. Gandy was scheduled to make his first court appearance on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, as the investigation continued to unfold. Authorities have not released further details about the motive or circumstances leading to the shooting, but the case has drawn significant attention across Charlotte.
The community has been left shaken by the incident, with friends and family mourning the loss of Reece, who was described as a vibrant young woman whose life was cut short in a senseless act of violence. As the legal process moves forward, the case highlights ongoing concerns about domestic violence and gun-related crimes in Charlotte, underscoring the need for vigilance and support for victims.
