By Meghan Cooke
macooke@charlotteobserver.com

Two families are mourning the loss of a young couple killed in a murder-suicide Thursday in northeast Charlotte.

A relative said their relationship had grown "rocky" and they broke up earlier this year.

Around 5:20 p.m. Thursday, a woman called 911 and told police she'd shot her boyfriend, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police. Then she hung up the phone.

Around the same time, neighbors reported hearing gunshots from inside Edris Gbarlee Juyenneh Dickson's home on Perth Court in the Park Creek Apartments off Milton Road.

When officers arrived at her apartment, they found Dickson, 22, and Darron Orlando Davis II, 23, both suffering from gunshot wounds.

Police said they believe Dickson shot Davis multiple times before turning the gun on herself.

Dickson was pronounced dead at the scene, and Davis was taken to Carolinas Medical Center, where he died hours later.

Neighbors said Dickson had recently moved into the apartment. Some said they were shocked to learn she was the shooter.

Torri Davis said her brother was an outgoing family man who loved cars. She said he was excited about the arrival of her son, his nephew.

Darron Davis graduated from Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology in 2006, and he was employed with the city of Charlotte as a water service technician.

His sister said he and Dickson had dated about a year, and Dickson had moved from her native New Jersey to Charlotte.

"Then things got rocky between them," she said.

Last August, Dickson was charged with carrying a concealed gun, but the charge was dismissed, court records show.

The couple broke up several months ago, Torri Davis said, but they stayed in touch. She said her brother was afraid of Dickson.

Darron Davis was at home with his father Thursday evening when he got a phone call, according to his sister. Davis told his dad he'd be right back.

Torri Davis said the family has no idea what happened inside Dickson's apartment.

"We'll never know, I guess," she said.

Darron Davis' funeral arrangements are incomplete.

In New Jersey, Dickson's friends planned to attend a vigil Friday evening at the high school where she ran on the track team.

By Friday, more than 700 people had joined a Facebook page created in her memory. Her friends and family shared memories of her smile and "sweet spirit."

"(No one) will understand your reasons why, but God needed 1 of his angels back," wrote one friend on Facebook.
***
Observer researcher Maria David contributed.

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