CHARLOTTE, N.C. (FOX 46 CHARLOTTE) — Crime is up in the Queen City this year, according to CMPD. Wednesday morning Chief Kerr Putney said crime was up across the board, with homicides up 230% over last year.
Chief Putney said this isn’t a policing problem, but a community problem.
“You see people who don’t value human life, unfortunately that is not something police can inject themselves into,” said Chief Putney.
There have been 33 homicides in the first 90 days of 2019. Crime this year is up more than 4.5 percent, violent crime in up 11 percent and aggravated assaults are up 11.8 percent. CMPD released the numbers during a press conference Wednesday morning.
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Another troubling trend CMPD officers are seeing is crime victims and suspects are younger, mostly in their teens.
“Unfortunately they are using violence to enhance their street credibility,” said CMPD Deputy Chief Coerte Voorhees.
Street violence often means the use of guns. So far this year CMPD has responded to 321 calls where shots were fired. Investigators say more often than not they are running into problems with young victims.
“They don’t want to talk about the circumstances of which they were shot,” said Chief Putney.
CMPD has made some changes over the last several weeks to help fight crime. They are now reviewing all incident reports where shots were fired. The hope is reviewing those reports will show why a person was targeted. Investigators say sometimes someone is targeted because they are involved with a crime.
Senseless gun violence this year has already targeted innocent lives. The death of Kendal Crank is still fresh on the mind of the Charlotte community.
Her memorial along 28th Street and North Tryon continues to grow. The three suspects in her murder were just 24, 22 and 17-years-old.
Anti-violence groups say it’s time for parents to step up.
“Stop being friends with your kids. It’s about being parents, be nosey, get involved in their social media life,” said Will Adams from Team Trublue.
A candlelight vigil for Kendal Crank will be held Friday at 7:30 at the intersection of 28th Street and North Tryon. Her funeral will be held Saturday.
