Two of the victims were 16 and 19 years old, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police. The department has not publicly detailed the circumstances of all four shootings in the information released so far.

The violence has affected more than the victims’ families, said Maj. Michael Anderson of the department’s Criminal Investigations Bureau. It also shakes neighborhood security and residents’ sense of safety, he said.

Lisa Crawford, executive director of Mothers of Murdered Offspring, described the weekend as one of the darkest she could remember. She said the shootings seemed to keep coming throughout the day.

Police say some people are turning to gunfire to settle disagreements. Anderson urged residents to seek peaceful ways to resolve conflicts, warning that the consequences of a split-second decision cannot be undone.

The shootings have heightened safety concerns with Halloween approaching. Charlotte’s new youth curfew is scheduled to begin Nov. 1, the day after Halloween. Police have not provided specific details about enforcement plans for the holiday weekend, and Anderson said preventing violence requires more than police action alone.

Anderson and Charlotte City Council Member Malcolm Graham called on parents to stay engaged with their children and intervene if they believe a young person may be heading toward violence. Crawford urged people to pause and walk away from conflicts, noting that guns, knives and even bare hands can cause lasting harm.

Police are asking anyone with information about the weekend shootings to contact Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.