Gunfire Tracking Technology Expanding To Grier Heights

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by Kirk Hawkins
Bio | Email | Follow: @kirkhawkins by Photographer Tim Mullican

Story Created: Feb 17, 2013 at 11:31 PM EDT

Story Updated: Feb 17, 2013 at 11:43 PM EDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--Patsy Martin says it's been 10 months and police have not yet found her son's killer, "Nobody knows anything...and I don't understand why," she said. In the same spot where she spoke with us today, she says he was shot six times last April. The third child of hers to die tragically over the last 14 years.

Martin does not support the arrival of a specialized gun detection system in Grier Heights called Shot Spotter. "I don't like the idea of them wasting my tax payer's money to do that," Martin said.

The system can hear and locate gun shots so cops can respond quickly. Speakers and video cameras are monitored 24/7. We talked to Shot Spotter's CEO when CMPD was considering buying the technology last year. "80 percent of the time or more people don't call 911. And when they do call, they call late and they lack actual intelligence in regards to where exactly the incident came from," said Ralph Clark.

Martin says even if it was in place last Spring, the system wouldn't have saved her son. "I pray each and every day that somebody, somewhere in this neighborhood  can tell me who killed my son and why...my main reason is why," she said as she searches for answers technology can't give her.

Grier Heights has battled a bad image and crime for decades. The Community Association says CMPD told them the Shot Spotter System will be installed in the next several weeks.

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