Federal Grant Awarded To Brooklyn Community Plagued By Gun Violence
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Deadly gun violence has plagued the Brownsville section of Brooklyn this summer.
"Through the end of August this year, there were 61 shooting incidents. And while that was down eight percent, we had 82 victims, up four percent from last year," said Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes.
Community leaders said they hope a newly announced $600,000 federal grant will help cut down on the shootings.
1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reports
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"We have all been subjected to all too familiar sounds of shots and sirens," said community activist Mark Tanis.
The federal grant money will go toward programs to reduce violence and mentor and educate young people about gun violence.
"Brownsville, you are not an abandoned community," Hynes told reporters, including 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa.
Hines said one issue is repeat offenders, often from juvenile facilities.
Law enforcement officials said the money will be put to use for prevention programs.
"We cannot prosecute our way out of this problem," U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said.
Police commissioner Ray Kelly described the grant as a valuable tool to help measure which programs are working and which are not as effective.
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