Six homicides in six weeks! Fayetteville Police spokesman Sgt. Jeremy Glass tells Up & Coming Weekly that half a dozen murders through Feb. 15 compare to three homicides during the corresponding period last year. 33 homicides were recorded in 2020 tying a local record. Glass said Police Chief Gina Hawkins stresses crime prevention in efforts to drive crime numbers down.

“Preventing certain crimes is a daunting, if not impossible task,” Glass said. “However, we continue to provide resources, crime prevention programs, technology and manpower trying to reduce crime.” Police could not provide information as to trends of gun violence in the city.

Coincidently, gun ownership has exploded since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the civil unrest that gripped the nation over the summer. Americans purchased more guns in January 2021 than any other month on record, according to the FBI which has tracked gun sales since 1998. American citizens bought more than 4 million firearms last month which is a rise of 60% over last January.