Officers responded to the HillRock Estates apartments on Magnolia Hill Drive, just off Eastway Drive, around 6:30 a.m., police said. The complex sits in a residential pocket east of the city center, near the intersection of Eastway and The Plaza.

Television news crews captured video of an ambulance leaving the complex, followed closely by a police cruiser. The victim's name and condition were not immediately released.

Police have not said what led up to the shooting or whether anyone has been charged. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police or Crime Stoppers.

The shooting adds to a grim tally of gun violence in Charlotte this year. As of late October, the city had recorded more than 500 shootings, according to police data, a pace that has alarmed community advocates and prompted renewed calls for investment in violence prevention programs.

Residents of the HillRock Estates complex, a sprawling apartment community tucked behind commercial strips on Eastway Drive, said they were shaken by the morning gunfire.

"It's scary. You don't expect to wake up to police cars and an ambulance in your neighborhood," said one neighbor, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation.

City Council member Renee Johnson, whose district includes the area, said in a statement that she was monitoring the situation and urged anyone with information to come forward.

"Every shooting is a tragedy, and my thoughts are with the victim and their family," Johnson said. "We need the community's help to hold accountable those who commit these acts."

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.