A community gathering meant to tackle neighborhood violence ended up unfolding alongside it Monday evening, when gunfire erupted less than half a mile away on New Bern Avenue. One person was wounded at a bus stop near the Walmart as residents and Raleigh officers sat in a meeting titled “Bring Back the Village,” watching police lights stack up outside.
The meeting, organized by Justice Served NC founder Diana Powell, was called to give neighbors and Raleigh police a space to talk frankly about how to prevent violence. Instead, attendees looked on as crime tape went up and officers swarmed the nearby scene while medics treated the injured person.
Police secured the area just before 7 p.m., and authorities said the victim was struck by bullet fragments and taken to a hospital, according to ABC11. The shooting shut down the bus stop for hours while investigators combed the area. No arrests had been announced.
“This should be a wake-up call,” Powell told those gathered, urging residents to “educate, organize, strategize, mobilize and unify” to push back against neighborhood violence, as reported by ABC11. Organizers said the group meets every second Monday and is working to set up a gun buyback to get firearms off the streets.
A Corridor With Repeated Violence
Neighbors at the meeting noted that New Bern Avenue has seen more than its share of trouble. They pointed to multiple violent incidents along the corridor, including a fight that led to a shooting at the same bus stop last summer and a nearby stabbing. WRAL has previously documented several shootings in the area, underscoring why residents say they are tired of seeing their bus stop on the crime blotter.
Community Response and Next Steps
Organizers and attendees said the timing of Monday’s shooting underscored the limits of talk without follow-through. They emphasized the need for youth outreach, mentorship and programs that offer real alternatives to violence, rather than one-night bursts of concern.
The New Bern corridor is already in the spotlight for major transit and redevelopment efforts, including a planned 64.6 million Wake BRT upgrade that residents hope will bring investment and safer streets along with new bus service.
Raleigh police continue to investigate Monday’s shooting and are asking anyone with information to contact the department; no arrests have been reported. Organizers say they plan to keep meeting and are pushing to turn the shock of the incident into long-term prevention work instead of letting it fade as just another headline on New Bern Avenue.
