Last night our community was at the center of a tragic police incident followed by several hours of demonstration, aggressive agitation and unrest. Our neighborhoods, businesses, retail centers and institutions were impacted with activity that has left us all feeling insecure, concerned, and emotional.

This morning, University City Partners joined our City leadership and CMPD for a press conference to provide information about the events that unfolded yesterday. Click here to view a video of the press conference.

Efforts to ensure safety for all

We are concerned that there may be similar protests today (Wednesday) and beyond in the Charlotte region.  We must prepare for this potential as “one Charlotte” by standing together in a way that demonstrates our support of peaceful protests, while also ensuring the safety of law enforcement officers and all citizens.

We would like to share the following information with you, our partners and neighbors, to keep you informed of our City’s efforts to maintain safety in our community.

• There is a full ongoing investigation of the shooting. More information will be shared by CMPD in the coming hours and days as the investigation is in very early stages.
• Additional CMPD officer resources are being deployed into the Charlotte community and specifically into University City today and for as long as necessary to maintain safety.
• CMPD is operating under emergency staffing conditions, meaning all officers work 12 hours on, 12 hours off.
• CMPD monitors social media activity proactively and are prepared to address demonstrations and potential threats. It is possible our City will experience more unrest this evening, including people from outside of Charlotte who plan to use our City for their stage.
• City Neighborhood Services is communicating with our neighborhoods and neighborhood businesses. If you have specific questions, please call 311 or your local CMPD Neighborhood Community Officer.
• If you see something suspect or unusual that gives you pause, call 911 immediately.
• UNC Charlotte remained a safe and secure campus yesterday and overnight. Chancellor Dubois has issued a statement for UNC Charlotte committing resources to ensure a safe and productive learning campus.
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is reaching out to families of students in our community with specific safety messages.
• University City Partners will be sharing information with our businesses, neighborhoods, institutions, retailers and hotels, and our faith community.

Community services tonight

We are aware of three community services this evening, Sept. 21. All are open to everyone.

• St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, will hold a prayer service 6-6:30 p.m. at the church, 1400 Suther Road.
• Advent Lutheran Church will host an ecumenical prayer service beginning at 7 p.m. at the church, 8840 University City Blvd. across from UNC Charlotte. Participating congregations include Newell Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg United Methodist Church, CrossPoint and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.
• Elevation Church will host a night of prayer and communion for the University City community, starting at 7 pm. Elevation Church is located at 8105 IBM Drive.

University City Partners’ efforts to build relationships as we build our community gives us comfort and confidence that we can and will work together to heal our community and be stronger for it.

We ask that you please keep the family of Keith Lamont Scott and our CMPD officers in your thoughts.

Respectfully,

Darlene Heater

Executive Director, University City Partners