The Queen City.

Charlotte, North Carolina.

A 45 percent white/35 percent black city (the rest of the racial breakdown largely Mexican illegal immigrants helping build new homes, high rise condos, strip malls and commercial real estate for white people escaping areas of the city overwhelmed by black crime).

2019 was a particularly violent year in the city, fueled by individual blacks collectively trying hard to live up to every negative stereotype surrounding Africans in America and violence. [A deadly year: 2019 murder rate was Charlotte’s worst in more than a decade, Charlotte Post, January 16, 2020]:

Charlotte just posted its highest murder rate in more than a decade, prompting city leaders to say the violence should be treated as a public health crisis.

The city’s rate — 11.6 homicides per 100,000 people — is the highest since 2005 and more than double the rate from just six years ago. That year, 2014, remains Charlotte’s lowest on record. The rate takes into account population growth and is one way to look at deadly violence in Charlotte over time.

This month, city leaders have raised concerns following the 88% increase in the number of homicides in 2019 — 107 — compared with 57 in 2018.

Although only 35% of the city’s population is black, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the majority — 80% — of 2019 homicide victims were black, according to the Observer’s analysis of data provided by CMPD. Of those killed, 80% were men.

Half of the victims, both men and women, were under 30 years old.

Arrests have not been made in around one-third of the 2019 murder cases. Of the 107 homicides, officers have closed about 78 cases.

Because investigations are ongoing, complete demographic information on people charged with murder is not available. Statistics from homicide cases from 2016 to 2018, however, indicate some trends, CMPD says.

▪ 90% of homicide suspects were male

▪ 85% were black

▪ 41% were between 18 and 24 years old, a segment which makes up just 10 percent of the population

▪ Victims were usually killed by someone they knew. 10% of homicide victims were killed by a stranger

▪ 26% of suspects had been convicted of a previous felony and 41% had a past felony charge

The demographics of those killed and those arrested are similar to the national trend, UNC Charlotte’s Kuhns said. Poverty, unemployment rates and unstable housing contribute to higher crime rates, he said.

“It’s part of the nationwide pattern … There’s disproportionate victimization among minorities,” he said.

STOPPING THE ‘CYCLE’

City leaders believe the city can interrupt the violence.

According to CMPD, one-fourth of homicides from 2017 to 2019 were preceded by an argument and one-fifth were domestic violence between family members or romantic partners.

In the first meeting of the Charlotte City Council this year, members said the surge in homicides is a public health crisis and that youth diversion and community-based mediation programs could be part of the solution.

“It can’t just be about policing anymore,” Lyles said. “It’s just not possible. … We want to actually figure out how to make change sustainable.”

Reversing the “cycle of violence” is possible, Putney says, but results could take years.

“I think we’re doing fantastic work that will pay dividends five and ten years down the road,” he said.