Violent crimes jumped 16% in Charlotte last year, homicides leading the way. Author: Lexi Wilson (WCNC) Updated: 10:23 PM EST January 12, 2021 CHARLOTTE, N.C. — New details from CMPD reveal violent crimes were at an all-time high in 2020. Violent crimes jumped 16% in Charlotte last year, homicides leading the way. 121 homicides were reported last year, hitting the same record numbers in 1993. A lot of the victims were young men. "Nothing is more frustrating for me as a police chief than to be on a homicide scene or hear about a homicide scene where a 16 or 15-year-old has been shot and killed and to find out it was a 15 or 16-year-old who committed the crime and that's disturbing to me," CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings said.