Town leaders discuss violence in Chadbourn
Interim Town Manager Jerome Chestnut called on the citizens of Chadbourn to help fight the crime that has surged in the town in recent months.
“We should be out in droves. We should be marching. We should be protesting,” Chestnut said at a press conference today (Wednesday) on the town hall steps.
The town’s first triple homicide occurred Saturday morning at a large party on Broadway Road. Several other shooting incidents have occurred in the town this year, and residents complain that gunfire has become commonplace throughout the town at night.
Due to the ongoing investigation, there was only general mention of Saturday’s killings.
County and city officials met to talk about recent violence in the community, and what the town needs to do make some changes. Interim Police Chief Ken Elliot, Sheriff Jody Greene, Chief Deputy Aaron Herring, town council members and others were part of the group on the porch of the Chadbourn Municipal Building. Rev. Myles Cartrette opened the meeting with prayer.
Mayor Phillip Britt offered shared the “town’s deepest prayers and sympathies” for the families of victims in the latest shooting. He also gave his deepest condolences for anyone who has been affected by violence in Chadbourn. Britt says he plans to meet with town council members and staff later on in the week to take action.
“We owe it to our citizens not to wait on this,” Britt said.
Chestnut followed Britt with a passionate speech about the recommendations he plans on presenting to the town council and county commissioners to improve life for the population of 1,700 in Chadbourn.
He said that the town police department is short staffed, and encouraged qualified individuals to join the police department. Chestnut said he also plans to ask for funding for two programs — a gun buyback and a Crimestoppers Program so citizens can report crimes anonymously.
Chestnut said he was born and raised in the town, and came back to live after serving his country in the U.S. Army. He said Chadbourn has some great qualities and is a nice place to live, but it has its “issues just like other places.”
The town and staff are completely committed to the residents, Chestnut said, and they want to make it a better place to live for everyone. They plan to whatever is necessary to make Chadbourn a safer place for the community.
“Even though it hurts, we must move on,” said Chestnut. “We must do the things to move on.”
Chestnut thanked those who attended the noon briefing, and said it shows the county as well as the town that Chadbourn’s leaders are addressing the problems in the town.
