CHARLOTTE — Residents in University City want to know what city leaders and the police are doing to keep them safe after a string of deadly shootings.
A 25-year-old man was shot and killed at a busy shopping center on University Pointe Boulevard Sunday afternoon. It was the fourth shooting that Channel 9 has covered in the past three weeks in that area.
“I thought this is a good place where I could walk and go to the store very fast -- just convenience, really,” said resident Ataya Shirer, who recently moved to the area. “It looks like a pretty nice area. I didn’t know that all of these things were happening.”
Sunday’s crime was the fourth shooting and third homicide in three weeks in the University City area.
“It’s disheartening that this type of activity would take place in a very public area one that’s filled with shoppers,” said Maj. Zeru Chickoree, with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Earlier this month, a woman was killed at the McCullough light rail stop, which was close to Sunday’s deadly shooting, police said.
“What’s going to be done about that?” Shirer said. “What’s going to be done about my safety?”
Channel 9 asked that question to the city and CMPD.
They declined to speak with Channel 9 on Monday.
The recent violence comes as UNC Charlotte students prepare to return to campus next month.
“This is a university area so there are a lot of college students here,” Shirer said. “They should also feel safe in the area.”
Shirer said she’d like to see police patrols increased in the area.
She also wants to hear from city leaders and police on how they plan to make her neighborhood safer.
“When will I feel safe again? When can I feel safe again?” Shirer said.
Channel 9 reached out to City Councilwoman Renee Johnson who represents the area about those safety concerns.
We have not gotten a response.
There are no suspects in Sunday’s shooting.
VIDEO: 1 shot outside University City seafood restaurant
:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/07-18-2023/t_1eaf9f7d74fe45be91b981e40a5649a3_name_UCTY__Chancellor_Dr_GSW_transfer_frame_82.jpeg){kind=spacer}
©2023 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/O7HPQNZQQNCBFK6JSFQJW3ZJZM.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/WU4HL3RDY5GS3KGLRV5NMQM7F4.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/M6R3AKDXB5DUTFW5EXPDAOZB5Y.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/2RKLF4D52RG5XFNLQSOTBL7RTA.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/QB2YHRSKJZEK7FYHEFVBLGIUHE.png)