Raleigh Police Chief, law enforcement officials address rise in violent crime

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The U.S. Attorney's Office revealed the results of a new violent crime strategy in Raleigh. Police Chief Estella Patterson was also be in attendance.

Officials spoke about significant quantities of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and crack being seized. More than two dozen firearms including one ghost gun have also been seized.

This comes after five murders in seven days in the city.

The most recent taking place at a north Raleigh apartment complex.

A 26-year-old man was shot in the parking lot of his home in the 1600 block of Piedmont Ridge Circle.

The violence is hitting too close to home for the neighbor of the man who was killed.

"I mean actually, he lived on my floor. I'd see him in passing and we'd talk in the elevator and stuff like that. It did hit me kind of hard. He had a little girl she had to be like two or three," Christopher Randolph said.

During Tuesday's press conference, Chief Patterson said officers are working around the clock and doing everything they can to find resolutions to the violence.

Chief Patterson addresses the department's partnership with the feds:

"Last week we were on the heels of the Fourth of July in Raleigh. We experienced five homicides over the course of four days approximately. I'm very pleased that in four of those cases we've identified suspects. Those cases we know that the suspects and the victims were known to each other. We believe in the fifth case that there might be some nexus there. So we are continuing to work those to investigate them to come to the fullest so that we can get a resolution there. The message to the community. I will say that our officers are around the clock working hard. Collaborations like this is an example of that, but also to we're visible in the areas that we know that there is high crime. We're very intentional about making sure that we connect with the community, as Mr. Easley has talked about that is something that is near and dear to my heart. We want to make sure that the community is part of the solution. One of the things that I'm very proud of our city making investments in community interrupter programs, and we're gonna be talking about that more tomorrow. We're going to be inviting you to come to a press conference where I'm going to release my second quarter numbers. And we'll be talking more about those community interrupters because we need the community to take, you know, action and what we're seeing across the board. With the violence in all these communities."

Chief Patterson also thanked the community for their support:

"We cannot do the work that we do without public support. We will continue serving with the highest level of service that the Raleigh Police Department is known for. It is my intention to continue providing the necessary resources to identify and seek prosecution of those who commit violence in our community. Those who sell and traffic narcotics and those who break the laws that impact the quality of life for our residents."