ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Elizabeth City officials and the city’s police department held a press conference to announce new initiatives that address crime, particularly youth gun violence.
The conference follows a string of violent crimes involving teenagers that have happened this year, including a shooting that left three teens injured earlier this week.
At the conference, police said the triple shooting is still under investigation and no arrests have been made yet. They also provided an update on the three injured teens: one was released from the hospital, but two 16-year-olds are still at Sentara Norfolk General.
Elizabeth City Police Chief Phil Webster said at the conference that most of the people injured during the city's violent first half of the year were minors. He said of the 14 people shot in the city this year, 10 have been under the age of 18.
JUST IN: Elizabeth City Police Chief J. Phillip Webster says no updates on conditions of 3 teens injured in Wednesday shooting. Press conference on violence just getting started. https://t.co/fnVrowD4mz @WTKR3 pic.twitter.com/OTMZkejT6b
— Anthony Sabella (@AnthonyWTKR) July 7, 2023
When asked about potential gang violence, Chief Webster said they've linked most of the shots fired calls received by the department to a couple of dozen juveniles involved in three distinct groups. He said police know some of these kids, and are trying to meet with their parents and work towards a solution to end the violence.
"When we sent out letters [to the kids' parents], we had many who said, 'We’re coming.' We had one who said, 'Absolutely not.' The parents that came, we had a few that accepted one-on-one [conversations] with the school system to talk about their children," said Chief Webster. "It’s really hard to gauge what they’re thinking in their mind. It shows to them…from where I’m sitting, it shows to them, if they didn’t know their kid was involved in something, they know now.”
Chief Webster said one of the parents who declined the department's invitation to meet is the parent of two of the teens who were shot on Wednesday.
At the conference, city officials said another way they plan on preventing violence is by going after landlords of so-called "nuisance properties" where violent incidents often happen.
Elizabeth City Mayor Kirk Rivers said the department is also deciding on where to put ten surveillance cameras that were approved for the budget.
#ElizabethCity Mayor Kirk Rivers says when someone is shot, he will spend next 7 days in that neighborhood protesting against violence. https://t.co/fnVrowD4mz @WTKR3 pic.twitter.com/BsUS2AAMLj
— Anthony Sabella (@AnthonyWTKR) July 7, 2023
Residents have taken note of the frequent violence in the city. Following the triple shooting, one resident voiced his concerns to us about the lack of safety in the community.
Northeastern North Carolina
Elizabeth City community works to build positivity after shooting of 3 teens
"They got young kids scared to come outside. They used to play in [a nearby] field. Now, their parents have to be outside to watch over them,” a resident said about the city’s Speed Street area, where the triple shooting happened.
Following the triple shooting, Mayor Rivers said the fact that guns are easy for minors to access is contributing to the city's youth gun violence issue.
"Young people, they can get guns with no problem. All they need to have is the money and within time, they have access to a gun. That’s a problem that we have and we’re going to deal with it," said Mayor Rivers.
The triple shooting remains under investigation. Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to call the department at 252-335-4321.
Stay with News 3 for updates.
