CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says there have been hundreds of cases in 2018 where people have shot into occupied homes and apartments and they're working to stop the violence. 

• There have been 305 cases where people have shot into occupied dwellings
• Investigators say that number could be higher since some people are afraid to report the crime
• Police say some of these shootings have been completely random

So far this year, police say there have been 305 cases of shooting into occupied dwellings. Investigators say that number could be even higher, but often times people are too scared to report the crime. 

CMPD says most of these shootings are retaliatory, but some of them have been completely random. 

Earlier this year, a 6-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy were hit with stray bullets, and nearly killed in separate incidents.

Officials say some of the shooters are as young as 14 years old. 

CMPD developed a task force back in July to solve these cases and put the shooters behind bars.

They say part of the issue is that victims are often too afraid to come forward, but now more than ever, investigators need help. 

“This isn’t a police problem. This isn’t a prosecution problem. This is a city of Charlotte problem. This is your neighborhood. We cannot do this alone. We have to have the cooperation from the community," says Sgt. Steven Fischbach. 

Since the task force was created, CMPD says they have arrested nine people and taken seven guns.