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After violent week in Charlotte leaves 8 dead, many question the city's approach

The first three months of 2024 have been the deadliest that Charlotte has seen in over a decade.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It's been a deadly week in Charlotte. Since Tuesday, eight people have been found dead in the Queen City. So far this year, 27 people have been killed. That's nine more than this time last year. 

Crime data for Charlotte, compiled by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, shows how the violent start to 2024 compares to the same time period in previous years:

  • 2024 - 27 people
  • 2023 - 18 people
  • 2022 - 15 people
  • 2021 - 13 people
  • 2020 - 19 people

The start of this year is now the deadliest three months Charlotte has seen in at least a decade. Greg Jackson with Heal Charlotte said while he reflects on the numbers he looks forward to the future.

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"Where are we going," Jackson said. "[I] Immediately start thinking about what the numbers are going to look like at the end of the year.” 

Jackson said curbing this starts at the beginning and is a domino effect.

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“We can't serve the kids without serving the parents, can't serve the parents without serving the kids, we can’t stop the violence without putting people in housing, can’t do that unless they are making a good hourly wage," Jackson said. "The city needs to be making a larger investment financially, conflict resolution, youth programming.”

For some in the community like Jackson, it's jarring to see and for others, this is not unexpected. 

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Ralph Miller owns Bubba's BBQ and his business sits across the street from a crime scene that happened over the weekend. He said his over the years, the area has changed. 

"The neighborhood, it’s kind of sad," Miller said. "The problem is, it’s all over Charlotte ... the criminals have cars. You call 911 ... and you go on hold.” 

WCNC Charlotte is committed to reporting on the many issues facing the communities we serve. We tell the stories of people working to solve persistent social problems. We examine how problems can be solved or addressed to improve the quality of life and make a positive difference. WCNC Charlotte is seeking solutions for you. Send your tips or questions to newstips@wcnc.com.

Contact Austin Walker at awalker@wcnc.com and follow him on FacebookX and Instagram.

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