CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Sam Stitt, a graduate of Rocky River High School and member of their ROTC program, was the youngest of four children. 

• Sam Stitt was fatally shot on August 9, 2019 while visiting his son.
• As of November 26, there have 100 homicide victims in Charlotte for 2019.
• Sam's parents say economics and violence are directly connected. 

When describing his son, Michael Smith says, “Sam was that peace in a storm. He took things seriously, but he didn't take things too seriously.”

At 23, Sam was a new father, he was working, and about to move into his own apartment. That was until August 8, 2019.

“I was told he had been shot and he didn't make it," Sam's mom, Sylvia, says. "I think I was just in disbelief at that time.”

Sam, a co-parent, was visiting his young son Noah at the boy's mother's apartment the night he was shot. 

The bullet came from the other side of the door, striking Sam inside.

“It was the most hopeless feeling I'd ever had in my life,” Michael says. “I was so hopeless.”

They don't know what led up to the shooting or who did it. And so far, no arrests have been made.

“I feel violated,” Michael says. “As the father, it's a struggle day-to-day not to pursue vigilante justice.”

Justice is something the families, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and onlookers of 100 victims now grapple with.

Related Story: CMPD Investigating 100th Homicide after Man Dies of Injuries

“Our city is in an epidemic of violence,” Sylvia says.

Sam's parents say, while Charlotte has grown, some groups of people have been left behind.

“The young people that I've talked to, they don't have any hope,” Michael says. “When you're raised in poverty it becomes hard to see out of that.”

Economics and violence, Sam's parents believe, are directly connected.

“We're not doing nearly enough to address health disparities, income disparities, educational disparities,” says Sylvia.

They don't understand why there isn't a greater sense of urgency.

“If kale at Harris Teeter sent 100 people to the hospital, they would pull it off the shelf. They would investigate it and rectify it,” Michael says.

It's something that leaves Michael feeling helpless once again.

Sometimes Michael says he has to stop and ask himself, "What is it you want me to do? What do you want me to do Sam?”

For the time being, he has found that answer.

Michael regularly rides his motorcycle with fellow bikers across the city to raise awareness of the violence.

The hope is to remember Sam and make sure 100 lives lost in one year never happens again.