CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As gun-related crimes in the Charlotte area remain on the rise, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is consolidating three units to form a Crime Gun Suppression Team.
CMPD officials say this year alone more than 400 gun-related assault cases have been reported, 101 people have been shot, and 195 homes and cars have been hit by gunfire.
Detectives from the CMPD’s Gang Unit, SIOP Task Force, and TRAP Unit are joining forces to form the Crime Gun Suppression Team (CGST), and officials say the concerted efforts between these units will allow for timely investigations and reduction or prevention of gun-related crimes.
CGST officials say since January the team has seized 24 illegal guns and made 33 arrests.
Officials say most recently the team was able to identify the teenage shooter in the Northlake Mall incident on March 20th, and the shooter has since been taken into custody without incident.
CGST officials say they use the National Integrated Ballistic Network Program, which tracks gun-related crime across the country and shares this information between separate law enforcement agencies, in order to connect firearms to multiple cases regardless of where the crime occurred.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police say they remain dedicated to addressing rising violent crime trends in the Charlotte community and remind the public they can leave information anonymously anytime with Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
