'We've got to change': Families of crime victims plead for end to Charlotte violence

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Violent crimes are not only costing people their lives, but shocking communities and leaving family members mourning, some without answers for years.

Charlotte has seen 37 homicides to start 2019, each one leaving behind a devastated family.

Charlotte resident James Price said he knows from experience. In 2013, his son, also known as James Price, was stabbed and killed in the parking lot of what is now PNC Music Pavillion.

"It's disheartening to have all the killing in the city right now," Price said. "We got to do better. A girl cannot ride the streets to go to her job. Old lady in her house, she can't live in her own home somebody go in and kill her."

Six years later, he said he is trying to help families going through similar struggles. Monday, he led the prayer in honor of National Crime Victims' Rights week at CMPD Headquarters.

For some families justice is not always swift like LU Prudhomme's daughter Cherilyn Crawford, who was killed in a 2008 quadruple homicide.

An arrest was made in that case last month.

Prudhomme and Price said they hope the city will stop the violence.

"Look at all the families in here going through the grief. They are hurting because of the senseless killing in this city," Prudhomme said. "They don't value like it don't seem like. But life is precious and we've got to learn to value that."

"We've got to change , we've got to start at the beginning," Price said. "It is going to take generations to fix this."

CMPD has support groups for victims of violent crime and traffic fatalities. While there has been a surge in violence this year, police said one killing is too many.

Cox Media Group