Everyone knows that April brings showers, but this month it’s bringing something else – a whole lot of work for the Greensboro Police Department. While there’s been a great deal of debate about whether the new chief is the right fit for Greensboro in recent weeks, the day-to-day work of the department has continued on and it has been a busy time for the department that probably hasn’t had much chance to catch its breath.
From homicide investigations and arrests in old cases to fatal crashes, assaults and a case involving a registered sex offender accused of using social media to target a minor, the department has been working a steady stream of serious incidents since the start of the month.
It began on April 1 with an aggravated assault case on West Wendover Avenue, where officers responded to a stabbing in a Walmart parking lot. A 52-year-old woman was taken into custody and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury. The victim was transported to a local hospital. Police said at the time that details about a motive weren’t immediately available, and that case remains under investigation.
Just a few days later, on April 4, GPD officers were involved in an incident that triggered an internal review. Police attempted to stop a stolen vehicle at a gas station on East Market Street, but the driver sped off. During the attempted escape, a female passenger fell from the vehicle. Officers later found the wrecked vehicle on Huffine Mill Road, where the driver had been ejected in a crash. The driver was initially hospitalized with serious injuries but later died. As is standard procedure in cases involving a police pursuit, the department’s Professional Standards Division opened an internal investigation, and the officers involved were placed on administrative duty.
Traffic fatalities have also been a recurring theme this month.
On April 10, a 21-year-old motorcyclist died after a collision at West Friendly Avenue and King George Drive. According to investigators, the motorcycle was traveling west when an oncoming SUV attempted to make a left turn, resulting in a crash in the intersection. Police said speed was a factor in that case.
Just three days later, another fatal crash occurred off Pisgah Church Road. A 34-year-old man died after his vehicle crossed the center line, left the roadway and struck multiple objects including a fire hydrant and a tree. That incident marked the 15th traffic death in Greensboro this year, underscoring a troubling trend that’s persisted in recent years.
While traffic investigators have been busy, homicide detectives have had their hands full as well.
On April 9, officers responded to a shooting on East Carteret Street, where a 61-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound. Despite lifesaving efforts, he died at the scene. Investigators quickly identified a suspect and, with the help of specialized units, located and arrested him later that day. The suspect faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, and is being held without bond.
That case marked the city’s fifth homicide of 2026 at the time.
The following week brought both new violence and progress on older cases.
On April 17, police were called to a home on Battery Drive, where they found an 83-year-old woman dead inside. Authorities identified the victim and notified her family. Investigators said at the time that they were not seeking any suspects and that there was no danger to the community, but the case remains an active homicide investigation. That incident became the city’s sixth homicide of the year.
In addition to responding to new cases, detectives also made headway on older ones.
On April 14, police announced an arrest in a 2023 homicide on River Oaks Drive. A 25-year-old man was taken into custody without incident and charged with second-degree murder. The arrest came after an extended investigation by the department’s Homicide Unit, assisted by the State Bureau of Investigation. The suspect is being held without bond.
And in another case, police charged a suspect in a 2024 homicide on Hewitt Street. A 23-year-old man was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with that earlier shooting.
Those arrests highlight a pattern often seen in serious investigations – even when cases don’t result in immediate arrests, detectives continue working them behind the scenes, sometimes for years, until charges can be brought.
Not all of the department’s work this month has involved violent crime, but much of it has involved serious public safety concerns.
On April 17, officers responded to a report of a body found along High Point Road in the Sedgefield area. Detectives are still waiting for information from the state medical examiner before releasing further details about that case.
Meanwhile, GPD traffic investigators have continued to respond to serious crashes.
In one case, a motorcyclist was seriously injured in a crash on Randleman Road after losing control, striking a curb and being ejected as the bike flipped multiple times. Police said impairment wasn’t a factor and that the investigation is ongoing.
And in one of the more disturbing cases announced this week, police arrested a 24-year-old registered sex offender accused of using Snapchat to solicit a minor.
According to police, the suspect faces multiple felony charges, including indecent liberties with a child and solicitation of a child by computer. Authorities say the alleged offenses date back to October 2025. He’s being held in the Guilford County Jail on a $175,000 bond and he also faces charges in a separate case from another agency.
Public safety is almost always one of the largest line items in any city budget, and months like April serve as a reminder why. Between staffing patrol units, supporting specialized teams like homicide and crash reconstruction, and maintaining internal oversight mechanisms, the demands on a 24/7 department like GPD don’t let up.
Please support our police; they really need it right now.
Apparently the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. I attribute that to local state and federal authorities not wanting to poke the bear.
Each of these groups needs to increase the price these criminals must pay or we’re heading for numbers like Chicago, Memphis, and DC, the latter two are seeing dramatically less crime since the Fed’s stepped in
– Crime was trending down well before National guard was sent into those areas.
– There were many Red state cities that had much higher crime rates per capita than these cities meaning it was never more than a political stunt at taxpayer expense.
– The change crime rates is in line with the past trends since the guard left – violent crime down 5% in DC, 25% in Memphis, etc… these fit the trend lines in declining crime before the national guard was used for raking leaves in city parks and picking up litter.
– Crime actually decreased at a faster rate in the prior year before the national guard was used in Memphis and DC.
And “Here’s the professor”.
Notice how he said “red state cities” specifically to avoid the facts. The truth is that by and large, those are blue cities inside of red states, such as NC itself. The state is generally red but the larger cities are run by democrats, including Greensboro. (Even though they do not attach a party to their local elections, we all know that city council is hard left.) Atlanta, Memphis, Austin, Salt Lake City, St. Louis, Birmingham, etc.
Nice try Professor Dummy.
Bring facts to the table! Happy to do so given how conservatives hate real facts so much!
Please continue to support GPD in spite of the council stabbing them in the back. I remember one outsider they hired years ago that turned out to be a disaster. Hope this one proves to be better.
Only five homicides year to date in Greensboro! This is remarkable and our leaders of the past would be patting themselves on the back declaring they are doing a remarkable job controlling crime! Yes, in 2023 Greensboro had 74 homicides, 2024 45 homicides, and in 2025 42 homicides. Aggravated assaults may be a better measure of lawlessness in Greensboro. Many of the criminals in Greensboro can’t shoot very well as they roam our streets often high on alcohol and drugs.
Maybe they can’t afford the ammo to practice their trade.
One thing I would like to see is some basic patrolling on some of the busy road where there are drivers speeding with impunity, weaving through traffic and running redlights. I can’t remember when I’ve seen police presence on the major road in GSO. Have some visibility and actually start pulling over cars. That might get some drivers to slow down.
Scott
I appreciate your hard work. Could it be possible for you to get the total number of traffic citations issued each year from 2020-2025 from the COG Police Dept?
Thanks