In just one week, police have reported four murders in Greensboro.
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Greensboro police had an awful end to last year with the killing of one of their own.
This year has gotten off to a rough start too, with four murders in the first week.
“A lot of people don’t feel safe after the homicide of Officer Horan,” said Norman Dickson. “People say they didn’t feel safe going into the grocery stores it seems like they have to be more watchful.”
GPD officer Michael Horan died in a shooting at Food Lion just before Christmas.
Chief John Thompson spoke for close to an hour at Tuesday’s city council meeting about both Officer Horan and the 4 people killed in the new year.
“We will honor that officer Thursday at a service but my heart is just as heavy for those 4 individuals that lost those lives and those families that are suffering,” Chief Thompson said.
All four victims in this week’s shootings were under the age of 30.
Some of the murders were gruesome, with one person shot In the head.
Chief Thompson said the city can’t police its way out of this.
“What I want to do is ask the community to work together to prevent that violence from occurring in the first place,” Chief Thompson said. “We’ve made great strides over the last few year connecting with the families and communities impacted by violence.”
Norman Dickson is using his pain to pour into those who need direction through City Help of the Triad.
“I’ve been affected by gun violence,” Dickson said. “I’ve had two brothers get murdered and so I know the effect it had on my family.”
He hopes City Help of the Triad’s two-day summit called Bridging the Gap will be a part of the solution from an emotional and financial standpoint.
“To teach some of these young men how to be men, how to lead your family, how to provide for your family. Neighborhoods are affected by crime because the economics are not there,” Dickson said. “They feel like they are hopeless, they have no hope, but you give a man hope before he commits an act of violence he’ll think about all he has to lose.”
While City Help of the Triad does its part Chief Thompson said the police department is putting boots on the ground next week to reach the community.
