CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Officers in CMPD's Hickory Grove division said they are determined to snuff out crime in a community that was the scene of the city's second homicide of the year.
Teddy Bluechel lives off Farm Pond Lane, just a few blocks away from the shopping center where Monte Gay was shot and killed Monday.
Police arrested Terrance Parker and Brenton Samuels within hours of Gay's murder.
Bluechel said he minds his business, but is aware of the crime and violence in his neighborhood.
“I go to church. I don't get involved in all this stuff," Bluechel said. "If you got drugs all over the place, things are going to happen like that."
Eyewitness News was with Hickory Grove officers last month when they went to round up key suspects they claim were behind much of the drug and gun activity in the area. Officers were back out Tuesday morning, arresting a man named Christopher Diggs. Police said he was busted with a gun and drugs. Officers said Diggs was out on electronic monitoring while awaiting trial on robbery charges. His arrest is not related to the murder of Gay, but rather the ongoing effort of police to rid the streets of guns, drugs and repeat offenders.
"When we do these projects or initiatives, it's not just -- we do that and we're done with that area," Lt. John Thomas said. "We know there is constant work to do."
Thomas said while crime was down overall in his area last year, there was an increase in violent crime. Residents Eyewitness News talked to believe young people are responsible for most of it.
"I agree," said Thomas. "A lot of our violent crime out there, if you look at the age range, they are going from 18 to 25."
Thomas said officers are committed to targeting problem areas and people to make sure residents feel safe.
Bluechel offered his own solution for those bringing negativity into the neighborhood.
"They need Jesus. They need God in their lives to change them," he said.
Police have not released a motive in the murder of Gay.
WSOC
