Community advocates want Charlotte leaders to focus on ‘root cause’ of crime

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Four men were killed in homicides in Charlotte over a 24 hour period days after police released new data showing a decline in overall crime this year.

In separate incidents between Saturday and Sunday, three men were shot and killed and another man was beat to death.

“Statistical drops don’t tell the whole picture. People still have untreated trauma. People still don’t have stable housing or access to care and unfortunately, in this city, it’s easier to get a gun than it is access to housing,” Kristi Puckett, with Second Chance Federation said.

Puckett says city leaders should focus on the root cause of violence.

“Violence is oftentimes a symptom of the larger unmet needs of a community,” Puckett said. “I think that we have to really focus on how do we resource the community because we can’t police our way to safety.”

Some community activists want to see the city do something different to address the public safety concerns.

“I do not believe bringing in the National Guard is the answer. I definitely do not believe that. I also do not believe that we should have more police,” Reverend Corine Mack with NAACP Charlotte said. “There has to be a mental health crisis unit that really is involved at every level.”

Charlotte City Councilwoman Victoria Watlington chairs the Housing Safety Community Committee. She says city leaders are proud of the progress showing declines in crime, but there’s still working to be done.

“We’ve got to make sure people have support within their homes, within their education systems. We’ve got to make sure from a mental health standpoint, that we’re working with the county to ensure that people have the resources they need, that they are able to invest in their mental health,” Councilwoman Watlington said.

Out of the four homicides over the weekend, CMPD announced arrests in two of the cases. One of the fatal shootings happened outside Coyote Joe’s in West Charlotte. The nightclub put a statement on their website saying, “We are concerned and saddened at any loss of life. It is our understanding that neither the victim or perpetrator had been in our venue. Safety is always our top priority at Coyote Joe’s.”