Good morning. Fayetteville’s overall crime rate has dropped by more than 10% this year, but the city continues to grapple with a sharp rise in homicides, according to a quarterly report presented by the Fayetteville Police Department to the city council on Monday night.
As of the end of September, 34 people had been killed in Fayetteville—an increase of 68.42% compared to the same period last year, when the city had recorded 19 homicides.
Despite the spike, Police Chief Roberto Bryan emphasized the department’s clearance rate of cases solved, which stands at 87.5%.
“I commend our homicide units and being able to solve these crimes and put these bad actors in jail,” Bryan told Fayetteville City Council members. More in our lead story.
Welcome to CityView Today. This weekend marks Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday honoring deceased loved ones. Bilingual columnist Claudia Zamora writes that the event offers an “affirmation that even in death, we are not alone.” Read her column, in English and in Spanish, to find out where you can celebrate the holiday in Fayetteville. Plus, Bill Kirby Jr. attended the 100th anniversary celebration of Massey Hill High School. Over 435 alumni went on a trip down memory lane during the event, reliving a century of history at the old, brick school along Southern Avenue in Fayetteville.
Thanks for reading,
Maydha Devarajan
Editor-in-Chief
Fayetteville’s overall crime drops, but homicides continue to surge in 2025
Fayetteville’s overall crime rate has dropped by more than 10% in 2025, but homicides have surged—up 68% from last year, with most linked to domestic or interpersonal violence.
More from CityView
Column: How to celebrate Day of the Dead in Fayetteville
Bilingual columnist Claudia Zamora shares the significance of the Mexican holiday and where to celebrate it in Fayetteville.
Columna: Evento de Día de Muertos en Fayetteville
Claudia Zamora, columnista bilingüe, explica la tradición mexicana y comparte los detalles de un evento para festejar el día en Fayetteville.
THE KIRBY FILE: A poignant and nostalgic journey for those ‘kids on the hill’ at Massey Hill High School
“We had little, but we had everything,” Tony Chavonne delivers a heartfelt history of a century at the old, brick school along Southern Avenue. “We had each other.”
Events
LECTURE: MASTER OF LIGHT
- Where: Arts Council Galleries at Campbell House, 482 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines
- When: 10-11:30 a.m. today
- What: Explore the art and mystery of Johannes Vermeer and his painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring.”
STRETCH AND RESTORE YOGA WITH GAIL
- Where: USO of North Carolina – Fort Bragg Center, 2843 Normandy Drive, Fort Bragg
- When: 5:30-6:30 p.m. today
- What: Restorative yoga is all about relieving stress, slowing down, and stretching common areas of the body where it stores stress.
HOLISTIC HOUR: RECOVERY REIKI
- Where: Blissful Alchemist, 414 Ray Ave., Fayetteville
- When: 7-8:30 p.m. today
- What: A Reiki circle meditation with a portion of the meeting dedicated to sharing and healing.
Obituaries
Allison Jackson
Allison Jackson, 54, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 26.
Ryan F. Keplinger
Ryan Franklin Keplinger, 51, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 25.
Amanda Kay Rea
Amanda Kay Rea, 46, passed away on Monday, Oct. 20.
Until tomorrow!
🦷 Fayetteville Technical Community College is hosting a Youth Community Dental Health Fair this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tony Rand Student Center on campus. The event offers free dental screenings, educational presentations, mouth guards for student athletes, and more. Check out details here.
~ Maydha
