Concerns Growing About Violent Crime

SALISBURY, NC — The rise in violent crimes in Salisbury is now impacting events at local schools.  A shooting last week near a Salisbury high school football game put the team and fans on lockdown.  Friday night, many came out to show their support for the players.

Salisbury Police announced they are stepping up patrols and working to crack down on violent crimes.  Unfortunately, some crime is now spilling over to local schools.  And schools are setting up patrols at school events.

Its Friday night football, but the rise in violent crimes across Salisbury has many focused on their safety, instead of the action on the field.

“It’s sad,” said Salisbury resident Eric Gibson.  “It’s just these gangs around here; they just don’t have no outlet, nothing to do after school, except in the streets.”

There have been three shootings near the school’s campus just this month.  Rowan-Salisbury Schools Superintendent Lynn Moody says they are now stepping up security.

“You see the extra police officers on force, and we used wands tonight at the game; sometimes use drug dogs keep our students safe,” said Moody.

The new safety measures also included moving up the start time of Friday night’s game to get students home earlier.

“If the game ended late like other nights, I wouldn’t feel safe walking home,” said Salisbury High student Harley Hirst.  “Move it up to 6 o’clock, I feel safe walking home.”

The police reports show that the incidents happened at night, one of them last Thursday during the game just behind the visitors bench.

“The shooting last Thursday was off the premises,” said Moody.  She continued, “And you could hear the gunshot from the school, and we went into lockdown immediately.”

Many say the crime in the neighboring areas are giving the school a bad name.

“More is made of Salisbury High than it has; things are just happenings near the school not at the school,” said Salisbury resident Scott Maddox.

Students say they’ve noticed an increase in police presence on campus and in local neighborhoods.  School officials are also looking into adding security cameras and putting up fences on the property.