CHARLOTTE, N.C. (News Release) – Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden has issued a statement in response to Charlotte shooting incidents that killed five people over the weekend.
“As a homicide detective, I stood with families in the worst moments of their lives. I saw what gun violence leaves behind, grief that does not end when the headlines fade, frightened neighbors and communities forever changed by the loss of someone they loved. Now, as Sheriff, I carry that experience with me and I refuse to be silent.
Five people were killed in four shootings in Charlotte last weekend. Two of the victims were teenagers. Five families are grieving and preparing to bury their loved ones. Even in the middle of these midterm elections, I will not let politics or anyone’s silence distract us from the lives lost and the families left behind.
As a community, we cannot accept this as “normal.” We cannot read the headlines and move on because the violence happened in another ZIP code or does not fit our political or personal agenda.
We must do more. We must show up in every neighborhood, in our churches and at community gatherings. We must talk with our young people, support families and confront violence before another life is taken. We cannot wait until violence reaches our own family or community before we get involved and start another support group.
As we have said year after year, administration after administration, law enforcement cannot do this alone. Community leaders, parents, teachers, preachers, professional athletes and every neighbor from Ballantyne to Beatties Ford all must take a role.
If you see a young person heading toward violence or danger, reach out before it is too late. If violence is taking hold in your neighborhood, do not pretend you do not see it. Speak up and report it. Silence leaves too much room for violence.
Five people are dead. Our communities deserve more than another moment of silence, a rally or a balloon release. We deserve action. We deserve courage and that takes all of us to use our voices and not the keyboards on a social media platform.
I have seen the aftermath of murder as a homicide detective, and I carry the responsibility of this office as Sheriff. I know the pain violence leaves behind. I will not look away, and I will not be silent.
We must turn our grief and anger into action before another family has to hear the news I have delivered too many times.”
