CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Teens spoke out against youth gun violence during a public meeting on Thursday.

What You Need To Know

  • During a town hall meeting, youth discussed gun violence

  • District 3 council member Tiawana Brown held the meeting

  • This comes as CMPD reported a rise in youth crime
  • Mayor Vi Lyles called gun violence an epidemic and welcomed the ideas of the youth to find solutions

For her first town hall meeting, District 3 council member Tiawana Brown decided to hold a youth-led meeting to amplify young voices. 

“Often we talk about them, talk at them but don’t listen to them,” Brown said. “This is their way to tell us what to do. How we can step up as leaders.”

Several local students were panelists at the event, including West Charlotte High School junior Bobby Forrest. 

Gun violence impacted him earlier this year when he lost his friend, 17-year-old Avyon Thomas. 

“One day I was talking to him and the next second he’s gone. That’s terrifying,” Forrest said.

The latest Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department statistics reveal shootings involving a young suspect increased by 33%, while shootings involving a young victim increased by 18% in 2023. 

CMPD called the rise of crime involving young people the biggest challenge last year.

For Forrest the most impactful change needs to come from the federal level. 

“If gun laws were in place and more restrictive. It’s not the youth, it's the lack of gun laws,” Forrest said. 

The biggest takeaway about the meeting for Forrest is realizing others feel similarly. 

“All it shows me is my generation is sick to watch us die like flies out in the streets, we are tired of the lack of gun laws and we are tired of seeing the people in power do absolutely nothing,” Forrest said. 

He said it is time for action. 

Brown said the feedback from youth would help her advocate for programs to help tackle youth gun violence. 

During the meeting, Brown read a letter from Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles addressed to the youth calling gun violence an epidemic. She made a call to action to the youth to find out ways to help in the fight against gun violence.

 “We must invest in education, mental health services, economic opportunities for all of our youth. We must create spaces where you feel safe, valued and empowered to reach your full potential,” Lyles' letter read.

Forrest said the letter is a good start, but we’ve been at the start for a while.