The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department outlined second quarter crime statistics Wednesday that showed a 9% decrease in overall crime.
Vehicle thefts are down as well as burglaries.
Arrests and calls for service are also down. But violent crimes have risen in the city. Aggravated assaults increased by 6%. And there has been a 4% increase in homicides.
Deputy Chief Coerte Voorhees says gun violence is partly to blame for the increase in homicides.
"We have more shootings and more people shot this year than last and that’s one of the things that drives the rate," Voorhees said. "The more people shot the more likely they are to pass away creating more numbers, but those are people."
He also added that the coronavirus pandemic has impacted CMPD’s ability to do crime prevention work in certain neighborhoods.