Texas Non-Profit organization says it plans to conduct patrols around Garinger High School

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) -After hearing the news about two Garinger High School students being shot after leaving school last week, a Texas non-profit says it will have volunteers in Charlotte this week to patrol the school.

In a press release emailed to WBTV from The Uvalde Foundation for Kids it mentions a volunteer school patrol program called ‘STOPNOW’ will be offering a reward for the arrest of individuals responsible for the shooting killing 17-year-old Daikwan Deese.

WBTV’s Erica Lunsford contacted the Uvalde Foundation for Kids a few times on Tuesday, working to learn about their plans for the volunteer patrol group for Garinger High School, but was left without an answer from the non-profit.

Knowing first-hand the challenges of working to eliminate youth violence in Charlotte, WBTV spoke to Will Adams, the founder of the Charlotte non-profit organization called Team TruBlue.

”Charlotte is very important to me. This crime rate and these teenagers and how everything is going is just very disturbing,” shared Adams.

After learning that the Uvalde Foundation for Kids plans to start a patrol in the area, Adams has a few questions.

“Are we funding them? Do they have the funds to do this? What is their angle? Are they really coming in to help?” Adams asked.

On Tuesday, Lunsford also reached out to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the principal of Garinger High School, and the City of Charlotte about the foundation’s plans.

We have yet to relieve an official statement from them, however, LeDuan Pratt, the principal of Garinger High School told Lunsford that he was not aware of the volunteer group or their plans.

According to Tom Bartholomy with the Better Business Bureau, the organization has received tax-exempt status from the IRS. Bartholomy said the foundation has not filed a 990 tax return because they claim gross income of under $50,000. The only name associated with them is the Daniel Chapin that is the same as on the release.

Adams says more resources are needed for organizations already in the community before pulling in outside sources.

“It’s a good and a bad thing for me. When it comes to the help that’s needed, there’s definitely help that’s needed. Now do you have grassroots organizations that are here in the Charlotte area that do the work that are the boots on the ground? That I feel as though could get more resources to be able to be of help to CMS and the community? Absolutely, and we are one of those organizations. I just feel as though we are overlooked,” said Adams.

As of Tuesday night WBTV did not hear back from the Uvalde Foundation for Kids about their plan for patrolling Garinger High School or about the reward they are offering for the arrest in this case.

The press release also says:

“Patrol members are unarmed and do not enter school or district property without clearance. Patrols are separate from district security and as such, do not require school district collaboration.”

WBTV will continue to follow this story.