CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- 2019 may have started busy for Tito Truesdale but it's in a way no one wants.
- One funeral home has buried 22 homicide victims this year.
- Charlotte's murders are up from 21 at this point last year to 37 today.
- At this rate, the city will exceed more than 100 deaths which is higher than many years before.
“We have had homicide services every week,” said Truesdale who is the founder of Rosadale Funeral Parlor.
Rosadale is on Charlotte's east side and has buried 22 homicide victims this year. That's more than half of the city's 37 victims.
“We don't want to be busy because of homicides,” Truesdale said.
Funeral homes are used to seeing grief but these past few months have even been tough for his funeral directors.
Charlotte's murders are up from 21 at this point last year to 37 today.
At this rate, the city will exceed more than 100 deaths which is higher than many years before.
“We're accelerating way too fast,” said Alexander Funeral Home Vice President Kelly Alexander.
Alexander Funeral Home which has buried seven of the homicide victims this year.
“We've got to start seriously talking about mental health issues,” Alexander said. “Educating people early while they are in school on how to settle disputes without using violence.”
Truesdale said the average age of the homicide victims Rosadale has buried are between 19 and 24.