A Druid Hills woman is counting her blessings — and bullet holes — after surviving a terrifying shooting that riddled her home with gunfire while she slept. Kathryn Nordone, who resides on Druid Circle, awoke Wednesday morning to find her house pierced by at least 20 bullets following a shooting the night before around 10:30 p.m.
The bullets shattered her sense of safety, punching through walls, furniture, and even a bedroom pillow — stark evidence of how close the incident came to becoming fatal.
“[Police] could have been responding to a homicide this morning,” Nordone told local news outlet WCCB. “I could have been killed last night. Not knowing why this happened is terrifying because this is my home. I should feel safe here.”
Rising Violence in a Rapidly Developing Area
Druid Hills, located near Camp North End — a hotspot for real estate growth and urban revitalization — has seen its share of challenges amid the transformation. According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) crime mapping tool, multiple gun and drug-related incidents were reported within a one-mile radius of Nordone’s home between March 1 and April 21.
While the neighborhood is marketed for its proximity to development and innovation, residents like Nordone say public safety hasn’t kept pace.
“This area has been ignored,” she said. “The last thing anyone is going to want to do is move their family into an area where homes are being shot into on a Tuesday night.”
Nordone is calling for a stronger law enforcement presence and for developers to take greater responsibility for ensuring the safety of the communities they invest in.
“Regardless of where it is in Charlotte, if this is something that’s been happening, then I think CMPD needs to maybe take it more seriously,” she added.
The Bigger Picture: Gun Violence in Charlotte
Nordone’s case is far from isolated. According to CMPD’s most recent annual crime report, at least 932 incidents of ‘shooting into occupied dwellings’ occurred across Charlotte in 2024 — a staggering figure that underscores the broader gun violence epidemic affecting the city.
In response to the rising trend, CMPD launched the SWITCH pilot program, aimed at devoting more investigative resources and personnel to these types of crimes. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to improve case resolution rates and reassure communities rocked by sudden violence.
WCCB reached out to CMPD for comment regarding the specific incident on Druid Circle, but had not received a response at the time of publication.
Community Safety at a Crossroads
For residents like Nordone, who did nothing to invite this violence, the incident serves as a chilling reminder of how fragile security can be, even in one’s own home.
Her story raises key concerns that echo across many urban neighborhoods: Are city leaders and law enforcement doing enough to protect residents amid redevelopment? And how can community policing evolve to address the rising threat of random gunfire?
For now, Nordone says she’s just grateful to be alive. But the fear remains, and her message is clear: Charlotte cannot ignore the safety of its citizens, especially in areas poised for future growth.
Why This Matters to Readers:
This story highlights the tension between urban development and public safety, the very real fear many residents feel in underserved areas, and the importance of proactive policing. As shootings into homes become more frequent, communities demand not just justice after the fact, but prevention before tragedy strikes.
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