Three North Carolina Republican lawmakers are urging Democratic Governor Josh Stein to deploy the National Guard in Charlotte due to surging crime rates and homicides. The letter, signed by Reps. Mark Harris, Pat Harrigan, and Chuck Edwards, highlights the city’s deteriorating safety conditions, particularly in uptown Charlotte, where the murder rate has spiked by 200% compared to the previous year. According to the Fraternal Order of Police, aggravated assaults involving knives or guns have risen from 86 in 2024 to 111 in 2025, and personal strong-arm robberies have increased from 26 to 31 in the same period.
This call for federal intervention comes amid a growing trend of deploying National Guard units in cities like Washington, D.C., Memphis, and Chicago under President Donald Trump’s administration. While some local leaders have voiced opposition to these deployments, members of the House Republican Conference, led by Rep. Steve Scalise, have endorsed the strategy, citing improved safety outcomes in previously high-crime areas. Scalise, who serves as the majority leader of the House Republican Conference, emphasized the need for decisive action to address rising homicide rates and restore public trust in urban centers.
Charlotte Police Department statistics reveal a mixed crime landscape, with certain categories like violent crimes and commercial burglaries increasing compared to last year. However, other metrics, including homicides, rapes, and property crimes, have shown modest declines from 2024 levels. Rep. Harris believes the National Guard deployment could provide temporary relief, allowing local police to focus on apprehending violent offenders. He also highlighted the need for systemic reforms in the criminal justice system, particularly in addressing the release of repeat offenders and ensuring that dangerous individuals remain behind bars.
Rep. Harris pointed to the murder of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, as a stark example of the failures in the current system. The victim was stabbed to death on a Charlotte train, and the perpetrator had a history of multiple arrests and prior convictions. Harris argued that such incidents underscore the urgent need for stronger law enforcement and judicial reforms to prevent dangerous individuals from returning to the streets.
While past efforts to deploy the National Guard have been met with resistance from Democratic governors in other states, Harris expressed hope that Governor Stein would work with the Trump administration to address the growing threat of crime in Charlotte. Stein’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.