CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Homicide rates in the city over past five years:
- 2015: 56 (as of Oct. 29)
- 2014: 42
- 2013: 58
- 2012: 52
- 2011: 55
- 2010: 59
Charlotte-Meckleburg Police Department has investigated 56 homicides so far in 2015. If they continue, the homicide rate could hit a seven-year high.
Channel 9 investigated all 56 cases. Most of the murders, 86 percent, involved guns. Many were related to gangs and drugs.
- Click play below to see a recap of Charlotte homicides:
At least 12 were related to domestic violence. Of those cases, seven, including Sarah Ackers, had women as victims.
"It hurts because we see it all the time," Adams said.
Judy Williams co-founded Mothers of Murdered Offspring to reach out to victims' families 22 years ago, after her goddaughter was killed in Charlotte.
She shook her head when Eyewitness News anchor Liz Foster told her how many people have been killed this year.
"It just saddens me. After 22 years, you would hope people would start to see killing each other is not the answer," Williams said.
She said regardless of why people are killing, it needs to stop.
"We are not going to accept it. We're going to continue on our journey to end violence in this city," Williams said.
The group Mothers of Murdered Offspring is planning a candlelight vigil for every Charlotte murder victim.
Nationwide, homicides and violent crimes are actually down.
Murders across the U.S. have steadily declined, according to the FBI.
Last year, the estimated number of murders nationwide was 14,249, which is .05 percent fewer than the year before and an almost 15 percent drop since 2005.