Is There an Increase In Gun Violence in the F-M Metro?

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The Red River Valley has experienced a number of gun related incidents in the last few weeks.

When it comes to people using guns, is it a growing problem?

KVRR’s Brittany Ford talked with police and joins us live.
Brittany?

Alison and TJ the recent back to back crimes involving guns has some in the community worried, but Fargo police say the current number of crimes is not above average.

The Grand Forks Walmart Shooting, followed by reports of shots fired in Moorhead Monday night, topped off by last night’s armed robbery has many in the area raising the question: is gun violence on the rise?

“If people don’t use guns they’ll use something else a bomb or a knife or whatever it is. I don’t think it’s so much the issue of the gun it’s really the people’s hearts and people just becoming out of control,” said 23-year Fargo Resident Richard Irish.

“I think it’s kind of goes with us being a big city. I guess it does… You know I don’t know,” said Jen Eidem Resident of Fargo.

“Very surprising considering the national I guess feel around Fargo. It is that this is a very safe community and to see the violence is kind of disturbing and very surprising,” said 10-month Fargo Resident Michael Smith.

Fargo Police say we shouldn’t be alarmed.

The average gun related incident in the area usually varies from about 8–12 per year. Police are saying that the numbers right now don’t add up to a significant increase

“There’s no evidence that would point to an increase in gun violence in our community. Certainty if you look at our homicide rate we still average less than two homicides per year here in our community,” said Lt. Joel Vettel Fargo Police.

The last officer–involved shooting in the F–M metro was 5 years ago in Moorhead.
Reporting Live Brittany Ford KVRR News.