CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It's a new year, and Charlotte has already seen some violence. However, one post on social media claims murders dropped in the Queen City in 2023 compared to the year before.
THE CLAIM
The Reddit post said the 2023 murder rate in Charlotte was down almost 15% compared to 2022.
THE ANSWER:
Yes, Charlotte's annual homicide count is down, but only by 10% -- not 15%.
THE SOURCE:
WHAT WE FOUND:
When WCNC Charlotte reached out to CMPD, the department said there were 96 homicide victims within their jurisdiction in 2023.
In 2022, there were 107 homicide victims.
Even though the homicide count was lower, in 2023, it only dropped about 10%, not almost 15%, as claimed in the Reddit post. If you look at the post, it's from a data site called Datalytics, but the information on Charlotte homicides was last updated on Dec. 14, which may help explain the discrepancy.
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
WCNC Charlotte's Verify series is all about trying to make a difference in the Carolinas by making sure the community has the correct information. WCNC Charlotte outlines concisely what we know and what we don't know. Sometimes the answer can be surprising. Watch previous stories where we verify social media claims in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded.
WCNC Charlotte's Verify series is all about trying to make a difference in the Carolinas by making sure the community has the correct information. WCNC Charlotte outlines concisely what we know and what we don't know. Sometimes the answer can be surprising. Watch previous stories where we verify social media claims in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded.