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CMPD: Gangs using stolen guns to terrorize Charlotte communities

By Mark Barber and Elsa Gillis
By Mark Barber and Elsa Gillis

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said violent crimes like murder, robbery and rape are all down dramatically, but they are concerned about stolen guns.

[RELATED: CMPD cracking down on stolen firearms]

Police said gang members have been stealing firearms out of unlocked cars.

Channel 9 learned innocent bystanders are being hurt because those stolen guns are used in shootings across Charlotte.

A mother and her 3-year-old child were grazed by bullets  meant for someone else in east Charlotte three weeks ago.

[RELATED: CMPD investigating after mother, 3-year-old injured in east Charlotte shooting]

Eighteen-year-old Zyon Scott lives in the apartment complex that was sprayed with bullets.

"Like, a mother and kid getting shot, that's so heartbreaking, man," said Scott.

Many people leave their cars unlocked, making them an easy target for criminals.

Police said the number of innocent people injured is increasing because gang members have been able to steal more cars.

"It's not their beef, but they're the ones who get injured. You know what I'm saying, it's just so heartbreaking," said Scott.

[RELATED: Teen accused of gunning down Charlotte mother could face death penalty]

More than 2,100 cars have been stolen this year--- a 17 percent increase compared to last year.

Many of the stolen cars have guns in them, which is something else gang members want.

"We've had 469 guns stolen from our cars this year," said Deputy Chief Coerte Voorhees, with CMPD.

[RELATED: Man who shot at mother outside school could face federal charges]

Investigators said gangs are using stolen guns to settle arguments, and it’s going to take community effort to fix the problem.

"I think that's a bigger problem than I can fix. I think that's a cultural challenge that we're facing right now," said Lt. Fishback, with CMPD.

Scott thinks changing a culture of violence won't be easy because, he said, he knows people who were born into gangs.

[RELATED: Blood gang member, army specialist receives shorter sentence due to military service]

"Gunshots to me, that's an everyday thing now, so it's like when you're brought up around all this stuff it becomes normal, so when it happens it's like 'Oh, that's another shooting'", he said.

Investigators said in all cases like the east Charlotte shooting, reward money has been doubled to show how serious the department is about stopping crime.

CMPD isn't naming which gangs have been involved in the recent violence, but it is asking people to keep their cars locked.

The department has also created a special task force with detectives to investigate the dangerous shootings.

So far, detectives have arrested 64 people and taken 23 guns off the street.

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