Durham Mayor Sounds Alarm on 'Out of Control' Youth Violence

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Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams is taking action to address a recent surge in youth violence, with seven people shot in the last seven days, including three victims under the age of 18. While overall crime is down compared to 2024, the mayor says youth violence is 'out of control' and is working to pull together an emergency task force and engage the community to find solutions.

Why it matters

The spike in youth violence in Durham is concerning, as it threatens public safety and the well-being of the city's young people. The mayor's response highlights the ongoing challenges cities face in addressing gun violence, especially among youth, and the need for comprehensive, data-driven strategies that involve both law enforcement and community-based initiatives.

The details

In the last seven days, seven people have been shot in Durham, with three of the victims being under the age of 18. This comes as the city's 2025 crime report, set to be presented to the Durham City Council, shows overall crime is down compared to 2024. However, Mayor Leonardo Williams says the issue of youth violence is 'out of control' and is taking action, including plans to assemble an emergency task force to engage non-profits and the community.

• In the last seven days, seven people have been shot in Durham.
• Three of the seven shooting victims were younger than 18 years old.
• So far in 2026, a total of 22 people have been shot in Durham.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The next community session for the joint City-County Comprehensive Violence Reduction Plan is scheduled for February 24, with two more in-person meetings planned for March 13 and March 20.