Safety Concerns Ahead of St. Patrick’s Day Parade

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The tragedy in Kansas City has citizens in Charlotte wondering about the safety of the city’s next big parade in uptown: St. Patrick’s Day, especially since large crowds around the holidays in Charlotte recently have often ended in mass violence.

It’s a time-honored tradition in the Queen City: large crowds, the streets covered in green.

Following the Super Bowl celebration mass shooting in Kansas City, the large crowds have some a little more skittish.

“You never know what can happen in like the blink of an eye,” said Will Kirchgasser, an uptown resident.

Kirchgasser lives in uptown. He’s seen the fun of living in the metro, but he’s also seen it at its worst.

“I was at Romare Bearden [Park] around April of last year when there was a shooting of two people from some random argument, which resembles the same thing that happened at the Chiefs parade,” Kirchgasser said.

Uptown is certainly no stranger to holiday crime. On the 4th of July, there was a massive brawl.

On New Year’s Eve, five people were shot minutes before the clock struck midnight.

CMPD talked on Friday about their plans for safety at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and their response in a worst case scenario.

The response is designed to be the same whether it’s indoors or outdoors, whether it’s at a church, a school, a mall, or a parade,” Lt. Kevin Pietrus said.

Charlotte City Councilwoman Victoria Watlington is the chair of the city’s Housing, Safety and Community Committee. She said added security is a simple step, but checking bags and managing traffic flow also need to be considered.

The chairman of the parade committee will repeat their safety protocols that have worked in the past, adding that Charlotteans can feel safe watching the parade this year.