Two weekend stabbings in downtown Raleigh have reopened conversations about whether local leaders and stakeholders are doing enough to keep the area safe.
Several people WRAL News has spoken with have said they have concerns about the reputation around Moore Square.
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“It’s just at nighttime,” a dog owner named Sam said. “It’s more intimidating as a young woman to walk around.”
Each day, Sam visits the dog park in Moore Square.
“I do like it,” Sam said. “The dog park is nice and large.”
Sam said she makes sure to get out here early with her dog. This weekend proved her fears right. Two people were stabbed in as many days near the area.
Early Saturday morning, a woman was stabbed at Moore Square by a person police say she knew. On Sunday morning, a bus driver was stabbed on a bus near Salisbury Street and Edenton Street.
WRAL News asked Terry Champion, who said he is in between housing right now and sleeps at Moore Square, whether he feels unsafe while there.
“Oh, yes [I do,],” Champion said. “Every day.”
Champion said he sees the violence firsthand.
“I cry sometimes,” Champion said. “I cry a lot.
“Just to see everybody trying to bundle up together and not get hurt or get robbed or get killed. It’s a sad situation brother. Very sad.”
Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson said last month that Moore Square is among the areas Raleigh police have focused on for the last year and half.
Last month, Raleigh police shared data showing some improvements across the city. The data shows some crimes downtown, including assaults, sex offenses and robbery, are down compared to the same time in 2019. However, thefts from vehicles, stolen vehicles and weapons violations saw massive increases.
“I think we’ve all seen those trends, those upticks across the country,” Patterson said last month. “They’re not unique to Raleigh.
“What’s unique to Raleigh is the growth. With that growth you’ll have a segment of the population that’s committing the crime.”