Homewood Community Looking To Stop The Violence
HOMEWOOD (KDKA) - Residents in Homewood are asking for help and a solution to gun violence.
Even on a hazy day, the view of the city is indeed beautiful, but not all is well in Homewood where they have a gun violence problem and want solutions.
An emergency meeting drew over 100 people to the Community Center on Kelly Street Wednesday night.
There have been 32 shootings this year with eight being fatal. Seven of the victims were between the ages of 10 to 20. Fourteen victims were between the ages of 21 to 30.
There have also been 85 arrests on gun-related charges in Homewood this year alone.
"When you begin to hear those types of stats in one small neighborhood, then it's a state of emergency and when you begin to look at states of emergencies, you look for a rescue," Community Empowerment Association President Rashad Byrdsong said.
The meeting was sponsored by the Community Empowerment Association and the Coalition on Urban Affairs. It brought people to the microphone who told horror stories of living in bullet-ridden homes and having loved ones be gunned down.
"Dec. 28, 2003, my baby boy was ambushed on Collier and Homewood Avenues with three different government issued assault weapons," one woman said.
The neighborhood is looking for help from everyone, including community leaders, residents, police and politicians.
"We know that there's been a lot of violence out there, but we know that we love this community and we want to heal this community. We have to begin to work together to do what's necessary to make sure that this community comes together to alleviate all this violence that's out here today," State Rep. Ed Gainey said.
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