An impassioned address from Goldsboro Police Chief Michael West encapsulated the mood throughout the duration of Tuesday evening’s special called Goldsboro City Council meeting to address the recent gun violence in the city.
Chief West displayed a presentation that highlighted trends of violence in Goldsboro as well as the geographic areas where violence has been the most prevalent.
Chief West noted that between 2015 and 2021, violent crimes in Goldsboro decreased each year. From 2022-23 there was a 34% increase in violent crimes.
Thus far in 2024, Goldsboro has seen a 14% increase in Part 1 crimes which include rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson.
Violent crime in Goldsboro in 2024 is trending at an increase of 11%, with the areas of Slocumb Street, Harris Street, Ash Street, Royal Avenue, Olivia Lane, and surrounding areas, being the areas where violent crimes occur the most.
Goldsboro has employed the shot spotter system since 2016, and there were 963 alerts in 2023, with 299 alerts so far in 2024, a 22% decrease.
There have been three gun-related homicides in Goldsboro since May 25, including the murder of 18-year-old Javon Langston, inside Food Lion on Ash Street on Friday.
There were also homicides that occurred on May 25 and June 5.
According to City of Goldsboro Public Information Officer LaToya Henry, there have been nine shooting incidents that have resulted in 13 injured victims in Goldsboro in 2024. There have also been five shooting incidents that have resulted in seven deaths.
West mentioned that the Goldsboro Police Department currently has 37 vacancies and the department will be working more closely with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department moving forward.
“The only way we’re going to get out of this mess, or one of the ways, is we’ve got police our way out of it,” an emotional West said. By that I mean, we need officers on the ground more frequently, in these communities, one-on-one with these individuals. We’re not able to do that now. We’ve had mutual aid from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department for 32 years or longer. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, they’re ready to assist. We have other relationships, with the SBI and ALE. ATF is ready to come into town and let’s do our job. We can’t arrest our way out of it. We’ve got to have programs to help the young people.”
West briefly attempted to apologize for his display of emotion, before Goldsboro Mayor Charles Gaylor applauded West for showing a different side.
“The people need to see this, that the Chief of Police genuinely cares,” Gaylor said. “I see this side of you in my office, but when you come here you’re normally pretty stoic. Thank you for your passion. You have nothing to apologize for.”
Toward the meeting’s conclusion, Gaylor offered each member of the council an opportunity to share their thoughts.
Councilman Roderick White pointed to the need for more accountability for parents, and to be more present in the lives of their children.
There has to be a concerted plan where everybody has some sort of glimmer of hope,” White said. “We need to hold these parents accountable. When I was in school we had this thing called truancy. We must begin to go back to the things that work.”
Councilwoman Beverly Weeks leaned on her faith while admitting that she doesn’t know all the answers, but implored the city to turn back to God.
“Prayer changes things,” Weeks said. “I don’t have all the solutions, but I know a God who does. This city has turned from God, and until we turn back to God, we’re going to have an even worse situation.”
