31-03-2025
Community members celebrate drop in murder rate in Charlotte, says there's still more work to be done
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Charlotte-based community organization, Stop the Killing Crusade, is celebrating a milestone.
Leaders said the city's murder rate is down compared to this time last year.
'When you have a shooting on television, people see that, but they need to also see some good,' said Rev. James Barnett, the organization's founder.
On Sunday, members of the religious community gathered at the New Macedonia of Faith church in Charlotte to recognize that their work is paying off in lowering the number of homicides.
'We've lost too many viable, particularly young people, particularly young black men, and we need blacks in high places to step out and say nobody can save us from us but us,' said Barnett.
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His organization aims to combat violence within the black community.
'Everybody in the community knows somebody that has gotten killed, so we need to stop the tears,' he said.
For Henry Wheeler, this cause is personal.
'When my grandson got killed and I went out to the scene where he got killed, in my heart I wanted to believe it wasn't my grandson,' he said. 'It's time to make a change, so this won't keep happening.'
Those who gathered in this sanctuary had one goal — to lower the murder rate in Charlotte. They're doing so by getting out into the community, talking with people, and passing out buttons and stickers that say 'Stop the Killing.'
'I was in it,' said Amir Shabazz, who attended the event. 'I used to be those same young individuals out there with the guns and the drugs. I used to be that individual, so I think those who have been a part of the problem should be a part of the solution.'
While the progress so far is promising, these people recognize that even one homicide is one too many.
'Even just hearing about somebody else's loved one getting killed, it hurts me and my heart,' said Wheeler.
The group is planning to have a day of prayer in April to pray for the victims and their families and to pray that our elected officials will make choices to help bring the homicide rates down.
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