Attacked at Home, Answering at City Hall
In January 2018, an intruder broke into Kyle Houston's home and assaulted his family. He and a friend subdued the attacker, and days later he stood before the City Council to demand the city take crime seriously.
Early on a Sunday morning in January 2018, an intruder broke down the front door of a home on Davie Avenue where Kyle Houston was staying with his sister and a friend. The intruder punched Houston's sister in the face when she ran to see what was happening, and he assaulted Houston. Houston and his friend subdued the man and held him until police arrived.
The attack left Houston's sister badly injured. The intruder, a 19-year-old, was charged with breaking and entering to terrorize or injure, assault on a female, and resisting a public officer, and was held on a 40,000 dollar secured bond.
It came during one of the most violent stretches Statesville had seen, a roughly 50-day period that included two homicides and a random shooting that wounded four people, among them a 9-year-old girl. Houston had warned about rising crime during his 2017 run for mayor. Now he had lived it.
Two days later, Houston went to the Statesville City Council and spoke as a resident and a former candidate. He described the break-in, then called on the council to make public safety its first priority and to put its focus squarely on the police department and the city's crime. He turned a violent night into a public call for the city to act.
In his words
We were startled by the sound of the front door of the house being beat down. We were instantly overcome with terror as we realized that something was not right. Seconds later, we heard the door bust open.
Kyle Houston, recounting the break-in to the Statesville City Council, Jan. 2018
Perhaps instead of spending your time micromanaging law-abiding citizens and business owners with things like flag ordinances and higher taxes, you should shift your primary focus to the Statesville Police Department and the out-of-control crime in the city.
Kyle Houston, to the Statesville City Council, Jan. 2018
In Kyle's words
Many of you may know that my sister Kortney Houston, friend Eric Thompson, and myself were all victims of a home invasion/assault... This is life in beautiful downtown Statesville.
Kyle Houston, reflecting on the attack, 2019
The public record
Statesville Police reported that a 19-year-old intruder broke into the Davie Avenue home at about 3 a.m. and was subdued by Houston and another man until officers arrived. He was charged with breaking and entering to terrorize or injure, assault on a female, and resisting a public officer, and was held on a 40,000 dollar secured bond.
Coverage referenced
Statesville Police: Man breaks into home, assaults former mayoral candidatestatesville.com · Jan 23, 2018Statesville citizens, council members call for assault on crimeStatesville Record & Landmark · Jan 23, 2018