Council members express condolences after Ridgeview shooting; chief marks first council meeting since swearing-in

A council member expressed condolences to the Peterson family and the Ridgeview community on July 15 after a drive-by shooting that the speaker said killed a 22-year-old man.

"My heart goes out to the Ridgeview community," the council member said, adding condolences to the Peterson family and saying they had confidence in the Hickory Police Department. The speaker said they “have strong confidence in our new chief of police, Bridal Adams,” and that they believed the department was working to bring those involved to justice.

Mayor Hank Gess also acknowledged Chief Bridal Adams, saying the July 11 swearing-in ceremony for Adams was well attended — about 200 people — and that the July 15 session was the chief’s first official city council meeting since taking office.

The council did not take formal action on the shooting during the meeting; no investigative details or suspects were reported on the council record. The remarks were expressions of condolence and support and did not include new operational directives recorded in the meeting transcript.

Why it matters: A fatal shooting in a neighborhood raises public safety and community trust issues; the council’s public remarks signaled community concern and called attention to ongoing police work.

What the record shows and does not show: Council members expressed condolences and confidence in the police department; the meeting transcript contains no detailed briefing on the investigation, no motions, and no requests for a specific staff report at this meeting.