Mayor Hardy, alongside local area pastors, made a public plea for cooperation within the community to help stem the violence Kinston has experienced. From the steps of City Hall, the Mayor addressed the citizens of Kinston and asked for the leaders of the community to take part in the efforts to reduce crime.

Hardy also addressed the ones committing the offenses, “We ask that you stop the senseless gun violence. Even though its targets are intentional, it’s not warranted for our city.”

Kinston’s Interim Chief of Police Jenee Spencer also addressed the crowd. “We’ve seen a little uptick in violence here recently in our city. I can tell you as a police department, and as a city as a whole, are not very happy with that.”