CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department held its annual tree-lighting ceremony that honors lives lost to violence this year.
[ 2023: CMPD tree lighting honors victims of homicides, fatal wrecks ]
Loved ones, including Artesia Staten, wrote messages on ornaments and hung them on the tree.
This will be her first Christmas without her husband. He was killed by a drunk driver in September.
She said events like the tree lighting help her get through difficult times.
“Unfortunately, like I said, it’s a love-hate relationship,” Staten said. “You hate that you’re meeting under these circumstances, but you love that you have family and a community that could understand your loss and grief.”
CMPD said there were more than 100 homicide victims this year.
VIDEO: How the Carolina Panthers Christmas Tree survived Hurricane Helene
This browser does not support the video element.