Man found shot to death in Chapel Hill neighborhood; violent crime up since last year

Chapel Hill police arrived at the scene around 5:30 a.m., where they found 50-year-old Ezzard Charles Stroud, Jr. dead in his home.

Almost 12 hours after the shooting, there was still a heavy police presence on Creel Street. Crisis counselors were brought out to speak with neighbors, who are extremely concerned and shocked to find violence in their neighborhood, which they describe as "tight-knit."

The State Bureau of Investigation was also on scene assisting Chapel Hill police.

Lenoris Baldwin, who has lived in the neighborhood for around 25 years, says nothing like this has ever happened in her area.

"That scares me!" she says.

Lindsay Parlberg, who has lived in the neighborhood for about a year, says she's completely shocked a shooting would happen in this neighborhood.

"It's a great location, easy access to UNC. We've had a really nice experience and interaction with our neighbors," she says. "I feel like times are changing everywhere, and that's certainly difficult. I'm really surprised."

Instances of murder and violent assault have gone up in the past year, according to statistics from the Chapel Hill Police Department. Officers investigated 25 assaults causing serious injury during the first half of 2022, compared to only 16 during the first half of 2021.

This category includes the most serious crimes, ranging from murder to assault with a deadly weapon.

Within a quarter mile of Creel Street, Chapel Hill Police records show 47 calls for service over the last six months. Only one call was on Creel Street.

WRAL News has reached out to the Chapel Hill Police Department to ask if there is any danger to the public right now, and they said they have not issued a warning to the community about an ongoing threat.

Anyone with information should call 911 or contact the Chapel Hill Police Department at 919-968-2760 (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday). Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Chapel Hill-Carrboro-UNC Crime Stoppers at 919-942-7515.