The fallout from gunfire that led one of Fayetteville’s largest downtown events to close prematurely on Saturday has continued into the week, as local government officials are contemplating hard-line solutions to public safety concerns.
According to the Fayetteville Police Department, no one was hurt by the gunshots, and festival attendees of the Dogwood Festival were quickly evacuated Saturday night while law enforcement responded to the threat. The gunshots were heard by attendees and caused some panic, though they were fired outside of the festival’s perimeter. Police responded to the first incident, which took place at 200 Maiden Lane, at 8:35 p.m. Local news outlets reported another shooting in the same area, just outside of Festival Park, about an hour later on Saturday night.
The last musical act of the night had to be canceled on Saturday, a move which Dogwood Festival Executive Director Kaylynn Suarez said set back the organization $40,000.
“While it was a beautiful display of what community can do when you come together, it does feel like it’s overshadowed because of one negative moment,” Suarez told the Fayetteville City Council on Monday. She noted that “safety must always be the top priority” and the festival’s emergency action plan was carried out successfully.
Though the festival reopened as planned on Sunday, the scare has left city leaders pondering new and old solutions to Fayetteville’s ongoing gun violence problem. This is the second public event that has been marred by gun violence in the city in just over a month. On March 22, a 12-year-old girl was shot and injured at a local carnival in west Fayetteville.
Reporting to the Fayetteville City Council on Monday, Interim Fayetteville Police Chief Todd Joyce said the gunshots over the weekend “weigh heavily on everyone’s mind.” Joyce said his department is conducting an “after-action review,” examining police response to the incident.
“I’m proud of the quick response of our officers on Saturday night who ran towards the gunfire within mere seconds,” Joyce said. “Their quick actions are a testament to their commitment to not only our city, but the citizens we serve as well.”
The incident comes as crime overall in the city is the lowest in a decade, with both violent crimes and overall crimes plunging to levels not seen since the early 2010s — with the exception of homicides. Homicides have skyrocketed this year, increasing 366% in the first three months of the year compared to last year, Joyce said in his report on Monday. He said about three-quarters of those murders were committed with a firearm.
Mayor Mitch Colvin, in response to the incident at the Dogwood Festival, announced on Monday he would pursue “sweeping new laws” to address gun violence in the city. The council will consider the proposals at a special meeting on May 5.
“The recent spike in gun violence demands decisive action by Fayetteville’s Mayor and Council,” Colvin said. “This weekend, the 43-year-old city tradition and staple event was interrupted by gunfire. Although no one was injured at the Dogwood Festival thanks to the swift response of on-site Fayetteville Police officers, the incident follows a carnival shooting in which a 12-year-old was wounded along with several other violent episodes throughout the City. We have had enough.”
Colvin’s proposals, in his words, include:
- Possible declaration of a Public Safety State of Emergency
- City-wide 9 p.m. curfew for unattended minors
- Stiff penalties for parental non-compliance
- Restrictions at large gatherings
- Ban on masks and backpacks at city-owned property or city-sponsored events (medical exemptions allowed)
- Enhanced technology and surveillance
- Expanded camera network with license-plate readers, facial recognition and other AI-driven tools
- Augmented security presence
- Contracted partnerships with private security agencies
- Additional gates and perimeter fencing at Festival Park and similar venues
- Stronger incentives for public cooperation
- Increase Crime Stoppers rewards to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of violent offenders
The mayor’s suggestions have already sparked backlash among members of the public, with some residents raising concerns about the previously unpopular youth curfew possibly being reinstated and civil liberties infringed upon by increased surveillance.
“Crime is down in Fayetteville. If people try to use the most recent shooting as justification for increased surveillance, we’ll slowly lose our freedoms and become Minority Report or Equilibrium movie,” former Fayetteville City Council candidate Justin Herbe said in a public Facebook post.
Bishop McNeil, a local community organizer who was heavily involved in the Orange Street School restoration and works for the North Carolina Democratic Party, questioned Colvin’s focus on stringent measures in addressing the violence.
“While we can all agree that we have to do something to address public safety in Fayetteville, walking over civil liberties with failed measures like youth curfews is not the answer,” McNeil said in a public Facebook post. “Why don’t we try to increase our investments in violence interruption programs, affordable housing, and job opportunities which are actions cities have taken that have shown success.”
Others congratulated the city for taking a strong stance on crime, with some commenters on the city’s Facebook announcement describing the move as a “step in the right direction.” One commenter referred to it as “finally some action,” while another said the proposed measures “should have been done a long time ago.”
The special meeting on May 5 to discuss Colvin’s proposals will immediately follow the city council’s monthly work session, which starts at 2 p.m. At Monday’s meeting, Colvin expressed openness to hearing more suggestions to address concerns about the increased gun violence.
“But whatever it is, we want to give the additional tools in the toolbox to make the community a better place,” Colvin said.
Government accountability reporter Evey Weisblat can be reached at eweisblat@cityviewnc.com or 216-527-3608.
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