CLT Gun Violence Draws Attention of Black Political Caucus

CHARLOTTE, NC — A Charlotte neighborhood is on edge following three violent episodes in five days.

CMPD is searching for a gunman who shot a man near Oregon Street and Rozzelles Ferry Road.

It’s the second shooting there this week.

“Bullets don’t have no name on nobody!” said one resident, Darron Young. “You might be shooting at somebody and turn around, and it may go through a house and hit a kid or hit a parent or grandparent.”

Friday afternoon, MEDIC rushed a man to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after someone shot him in the street.

“Every day there’s gunshots going off,” said Young.

Police are still searching for the person who killed Daveon Andrews near the same spot on Memorial Day.

Thursday, a fight broke out at a vigil the Dream Team was hosting for Andrews.

“Think about your family. Think about your loved ones, because we could be doing your candlelight next,” said the Dream Team’s Shelton Morris.

The Black Political Caucus of Charlotte Mecklenburg says a lack of job options and poor education are fueling the crime.

“That’s a recipe for violence,” said Andrew Fede.

UNC School of Law research shows despite Charlotte’s economic strength, three times as many blacks and Hispanics live in poverty as whites in the city.

“It’s harder for people to come out of poverty in Charlotte more than any other place,” said Fede.

The Black Political Caucus wants the City Council to expand job training programs.

“The government needs to provide more opportunities for these young people, for the African American community, more jobs that are suitable for people of all socioeconomic income,” said Fede.

In the meantime, this resident wants CMPD to step up patrols.

“If it was enough, there wouldn’t be people out here getting shot and killed, people in the neighborhood fearing for their life, wanting to move,” said Young.

On Saturday, June 17, the Black Political Caucus is holding a forum to discuss resolving conflict without guns. CMPD Chief Kerr Putney will be there.

It goes from 12-2pm at Trinity Episcopal School at 750 E. 9th Street.