Family Pleading for Answers after College Student Killed in West Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, NC – Wednesday CMPD Chief Kerr Putney will announce new efforts to fight violent crime this summer.

The efforts come as the family of Charlotte’s 43rd homicide victim this year, Zach Finch, pleads for help finding his killer.

“He was a good brother, a good son, a good friend,” says Nick Finch.

He says his 21-year-old younger brother was known for his bubbly personality and his loving spirit.

“I know it sounds cliche that he was a good kid, but he really was,” Finch says.

Sunday Zach Finch went to West Charlotte, his family says to buy a cell phone he found on the app “letgo.”

He ended up dead outside the Arbor Glen Apartments off Clanton Road.

Family members tell WCCB Charlotte it appears someone tried to rob him, then shot him in the back as he ran away.

“If it’s too good to be true, then it’s not real. You hear that, but it needs to hit home to people,” explains CMPD Sgt. Susan Manassah.

Detectives say this case is especially troubling given the circumstances involved.

“Anyone with information, I beg you to please come forward and give us that information so we can get whoever did and bring them to justice,” Nick Finch says.

Zach Finch was a baseball player and senior at University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky.

His coach says it’s a tough loss.

“Very involved on campus, with community service activities that we did. Always had a smile on his face,” explains Coach Brad Shelton.

Family members who live in Mint Hill say Finch recently came home for the summer.

He planned to graduate in December.

“Zachary could be anybody. It can happen to anyone. And it needs to stop,” Manassah says.

Funeral arrangements are set for Friday.

Homicide detectives won’t say if they have any leads in the case.