Winston-Salem police seek community response to wave of violence

Winston-Salem police asked for more community input during a press conference Wednesday to address a spate of recent violence. Homicides are up more than 40% compared to this time last year.

The plea for community help comes seven months after law enforcement officials addressed business leaders about concerns over downtown security following two fatal shootings earlier in the year.

This week, 39-year-old Natalie Marie Carter was shot on 23rd Street, and her daughter, 19, was wounded. Police believe they were targeted.

Natalie Carter’s death marked the 40th homicide in Winston-Salem this year. That’s compared to 28 at this point in 2022.

There were also two separate shootings outside of downtown bars recently where no one was injured.

Police officials declined to offer a theory about the increase in homicides.

Chief William Penn, Jr. said although the year-to-date numbers are higher, there are signs that reducing violence is possible. He noted that there were no homicides in August.

"When you have zero homicides in a month, what you know is that folks are walking away from conflict," he says. "And that's what we need to do. That's how we get zero homicides in a month.”

Penn says the department still has a shortage of about 100 officers. He says the community can work with the department to fight crime by doing things such as registering security cameras with the department and being proactive about calling the police before arguments escalate.