DURHAM N.C. -- Police Chief C.J. Davis is speaking publicly after a violent week in the Bull City.

Officers are tracking down leads and looking for the gunmen in six separate shootings that left nine people hurt and two people killed within 36 hours starting Monday night.

Davis believes the shootings are tied to gangs. She's now beefing up her gang unit.

"We plan to do is identify investigators in other areas of the department or other officers and enhance that gang unit and turn it into a task force," she told reporters Thursday afternoon.

She added that she needs state lawmakers' help to get the guns off the streets.

"How do we have laws in place that ensures there are some type of safety mechanisms in place to not be able to get a gun easily at a pawn shop," she said.

Back in June, the city council voted 4 to 3 to deny her request for more officers. Davis plans to ask again saying she needs them to keep up with the growing city.

 

Davis asks for people to share this information with our investigators. If you elect to remain anonymous, you can call CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves. There are also CrimeStoppers operators who speak Spanish.