Pennsylvania Zombie Response Team

... & make murder AGAINST THE LAW?!?!

40 homicides reported this year in Pittsburgh; officials fear number will climb higher before 2023

Quote:By Talia Kirkland, WPXI-TVJuly 18, 2022 at 6:37 pm EDT
PITTSBURGH — Violent crime in the city of Pittsburgh is surging. To date, there have been 40 homicides in the city alone, and that number is outpacing the entirety of 2019, which saw 39 murders — and there are still several months left in the year.
“Just don’t forget about mine. That’s all I’m asking,” said Donald Hammond, who lost his son to gun violence earlier this year.
Donald Hammond Sr. says on April 16, 2022, his entire life changed when his son Donald Jr. was killed in the city’s Woods Run neighborhood. The Hammond family just one of the many families touched by gun violence this year.
“(The police) said they know who did it, but they don’t have nobody to point him out,” said Hammond.
Hammond said not a day goes by that he does not think of his son, and he yearns for justice for his murder.
In regard to his son’s cold case, Hammond said, “This a warm one; this one is hot. Solve it.”
This year, there have been 40 murders, and community leaders fear that the city is on track to outpace the homicides in 2019, 2020 and even 2021, when the city saw 51 killings.
“Thirty-eight percent of homicides are solved. The rest of it is cold cases,” said Rashad Byrdsong, the CEO of Community Empowerment Association.
Byrdsong, a longtime community activist, said that the city must begin to address gun violence as a public health crisis, and only then will the killings stop.
“We are looking at violence as a disease; the CDC says it’s a disease,” added Byrdsong .
Byrdsong says it is two-fold: Address the underlying social determinants like poverty, healthcare access, and food security and build trust by solving cases.
“That’s why it’s so important that we have all the players come to the table,” said Byrdsong.
Cases like Donald Hammond Jr.’s murder.
“It’s been 92 days. Just solve my son’s murder, please,” asked Hammond.
The Community Empowerment Association will host a community town hall on July 30 to discuss the public health approach they feel is needed to begin healing in the city

Or do criminals just ignore ALL the laws?!?!  And what make & model are these "violent guns"of?!  Local gun shops don't know, but if da' Community Empowerment Association ( a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kamalalala-ding-dong Word Salad, Inc.!!!) knows what brand, make, & caliber these violent guns are - they ain't tellin'!!!!

Criminals only follow the laws when signs are posted. For example a criminals never carries a gun into a gun-free zone.
So, if you post a sign, it they will follow!
https://youtu.be/fYL0yN110go

So... for the cost & effort of putting up some murder-free zone signs, everything should be fine then?  so why hasn't the EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVIL rayciss, WHITEY mayor, Al Sharpton, Jr. done this yet?!?! We're losing to the St. Louis STOOOOOOOOOOPIDS again!!!!

St. Louis Pastors To Use Magical ‘Violence Free Zone’ Signs
By
John Boch
-
March 26, 2020

Quote:Image via St. Louis Fox2Now.
◀Previous Post
Next Post▶
St. Louis pastors have come up with an ingenious new way to fight violent crime in America’s sixth most crime-ridden city. Their simple-minded idea: signage. “Violence Free Zone” signs to be more specific. No one ever told them that magic spells and wishful thinking in the face of a threat can be hazardous to your health.
Neighborhood Scout scores the city of St. Louis a “one” on a scale of 100 in terms of a crime index. On their scale, 100 means the least crime and greatest safety. So it’s not like golf, where the low score wins. Unless you’re a criminal, that is.
But that doesn’t stop well-meaning pastors from enchanting the mainstream media with their “revolutionary” idea to stop violent criminal actors.
From Fox2Now:

Quote:The Joshua Transformation Project has launched a new initiative designed to help prevent gun violence. The non-profit organization is placing “Violence-Free Zone” signs in a St. Louis community to help keep residents safe.

Should work <Doug Henning voice!!!> MAGICALLY  </Doug Henning voice!!!>

[/url]



[url=https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=St.+Louis+Pastors+To+Use+Magical+%E2%80%98Violence+Free+Zone%E2%80%99+Signs %0A%0A https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/st-lou...one-signs/]

When will assault & robbery be outlawed finally - along with Tobasco sauce & squirt guns?!?!

90-year-old victim of assault, robbery in Elizabeth Township shares her story

Quote:By Nicole Ford, WPXI-TVJuly 22, 2022 at 6:38 pm EDT
ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Off a busy Boston Hollow Road inside her living room sits 90-year-old Beadie Sapp.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2 McKeesport men charged after allegedly assaulting, robbing 90-year-old woman
“I drink my milk, and I’m strong enough,” Sapp said.
Strong is an understatement when you hear what this woman endured 48 hours ago.
“The door come crashing down, and they said, ‘Shut up!’ ... And I’m like, ‘What do you guys want here? Who are you?’” Sapp said.
While sitting in her recliner at 2 a.m., two men went rummaging through her home, taking everything they could find.
“I said, ‘What do yinz want?’ And the guy hunting for everything is like, ‘I want your money. I know you have money,’” Sapp told Channel 11 News.
With jewelry in hand, Beadie said the one suspect smashed her telephone.
“They mixed up alcohol and hot sauce, and he had some kind of squirt gun and squirted it in my face,” Sapp said.
Immediately, Elizabeth Township police were on the case.
“I had officers off duty asking to come in: ‘We aren’t employees here in Elizabeth Township. We are also residents of Elizabeth Township, and our most precious residents are children and elderly,’” Sapp said.
Using new license plate reader technology, police were able to track the two suspects using a red van to McKeesport.
William Aschmeller, 57, and Carl Mathews, 45, were taken into custody and charged with burglary, robbery and assault.
“Our investigation led us to find out that the 57-year-old arrestee in this case had done contracted handyman work in the area and possibly targeted that location from information he gathered while working at an adjacent property,” said Elizabeth Township Police Chief Ken Honick.
As for Beadie, she’s getting a new door, her cable is being restored, and she’s thankful those two men are behind bars.
“I stood behind the door for a while waiting for the cops because I thought they were coming back,” Sapp said. “I was just shaken and waiting for the cops to help me out, and they did.”
Beadie told Channel 11 this wasn’t her first home invasion since living in her home. She said in 2008, someone broke in when she wasn’t there and stole her jewelry and valuables, but she said she has no plans to move and will keep on living her life.

Another of Mayor Al Sharpton Jr's. gun-totin' Bibnle-thumpin' EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVIL whitey, cracka-devils strikes again!!!!

Brackenridge police chief killed, another officer injured in shooting; suspect shot, killed

Quote:BRACKENRIDGE, Pa. — The Brackenridge police chief was killed and another officer is injured after shots were fired in Brackenridge on Monday.
PHOTOS: Heavy police presence after police officer killed, another injured in Brackenridge



RAW: 1 officer killed, another injured after shots fired in downtown Brackenridge; suspect dead

Quote:BREAKING: Multiple law enforcement sources tell Channel 11 News two police officers have been shot; one officer is dead, another is injured after shots were fired in downtown Brackenridge. @WPXI pic.twitter.com/ngiwyZdT0c
— Sarafina James (@SarafinaWPXI) January 2, 2023

The incident prompted a heavy police presence as investigators searched for the suspect.
Our sources confirmed that the suspect was shot and killed by police after a chase in the city of Pittsburgh.

Quote:Multiple sources say the suspect who is accused of murdering a police officer and wounding a second police officer was shot and killed by police @WPXI https://t.co/AVQVRf4tF7
— Amy Hudak (@amy_hudak) January 3, 2023

Shooting incident
Police said they first encountered Swan during a traffic stop Sunday night, which he allegedly fled.
Monday morning, Harrison Township police engaged in a vehicle pursuit with Swan, and he fled on foot.
At around 2 p.m. on Monday, officers encountered Swan near the border of Brackenridge and Tarentum in a foot pursuit.
The chase lasted for several hours through different neighborhoods before two separate shootings, one in the 800 block of Third Street and another on Brackenridge Avenue. Officers were shot in both shootings. The Brackenridge police chief, Justin McIntire, was shot in the head and killed.
The surviving officer was shot in the leg, and is listed in stable condition.
Click here for the timeline of events.
What we know about Brackenridge police chief, Justin McIntire
McIntire was sworn in as Brackenridge’s police chief on Jan. 2, 2019.
Exactly four years later, McIntire was killed when shots rang out in downtown Brackenridge.
Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro issued the following statement after McIntire’s death:

Quote:Today's tragedy in Brackenridge is a devastating reminder of the bravery of those who put their lives on the line every day to protect us.

Police Chief Justin McIntire ran towards danger to keep Pennsylvanians safe — and he made the ultimate sacrifice in service to community.
— Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) January 3, 2023

Click here for what we know about McIntire.
What we know about the suspect
During a news briefing, Allegheny County police identified the suspect as Aaron Lamont Swan Jr. of Duquesne.




Police said Swan was from Duquesne, but was known to be an gun-totin' Bibnle-thumpin' EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVIL whitey, cracka-devil, in disguise!!!
PHOTOS: Heavy police presence after police officer killed, another injured in Brackenridge



RAW: 1 officer killed, another injured after shots fired in downtown Brackenridge; suspect dead

Quote:BREAKING: Multiple law enforcement sources tell Channel 11 News two police officers have been shot; one officer is dead, another is injured after shots were fired in downtown Brackenridge. @WPXI pic.twitter.com/ngiwyZdT0c
— Sarafina James (@SarafinaWPXI) January 2, 2023

The incident prompted a heavy police presence as investigators searched for the suspect.
Our sources confirmed that the suspect was shot and killed by police after a chase in the city of Pittsburgh.

Quote:Multiple sources say the suspect who is accused of murdering a police officer and wounding a second police officer was shot and killed by police @WPXI https://t.co/AVQVRf4tF7
— Amy Hudak (@amy_hudak) January 3, 2023

Shooting incident
Police said they first encountered Swan during a traffic stop Sunday night, which he allegedly fled.
Monday morning, Harrison Township police engaged in a vehicle pursuit with Swan, and he fled on foot.
At around 2 p.m. on Monday, officers encountered Swan near the border of Brackenridge and Tarentum in a foot pursuit.
The chase lasted for several hours through different neighborhoods before two separate shootings, one in the 800 block of Third Street and another on Brackenridge Avenue. Officers were shot in both shootings. The Brackenridge police chief, Justin McIntire, was shot in the head and killed.
The surviving officer was shot in the leg, and is listed in stable condition.
Click here for the timeline of events.
What we know about Brackenridge police chief, Justin McIntire
McIntire was sworn in as Brackenridge’s police chief on Jan. 2, 2019.
Exactly four years later, McIntire was killed when shots rang out in downtown Brackenridge.
Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro issued the following statement after McIntire’s death:

Quote:Today's tragedy in Brackenridge is a devastating reminder of the bravery of those who put their lives on the line every day to protect us.

Police Chief Justin McIntire ran towards danger to keep Pennsylvanians safe — and he made the ultimate sacrifice in service to community.
— Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) January 3, 2023

Click here for what we know about McIntire.
What we know about the suspect
During a news briefing, Allegheny County police identified the suspect as Aaron Lamont Swan Jr. of Duquesne.




Police said Swan was from Duquesne, but was known to frequent the Penn Hills area.
Several sources told Channel 11 Swan was shot and killed by police after a chase through the city of Pittsburgh.
This is a developing story, and Channel 11 has a crew working to learn more. Stay with Channel 11 News for continuous coverage of the situation as updates continue to come in.

.
Several sources told Channel 11 Swan was shot and killed by police after a chase through the city of Pittsburgh.
This is a developing story, and Channel 11 has a crew working to learn more. Stay with Channel 11 News for continuous coverage of the situation as updates continue to come in.

I'm sure Mayor Sharpton, Jr.  will call for a ban on whitey-devils & AR-14's after this!

(07-18-2022, 08:37 PM)The War Wagon Wrote: [ -> ]... & make murder AGAINST THE LAW?!?!

40 homicides reported this year in Pittsburgh; officials fear number will climb higher before 2023

Quote:By Talia Kirkland, WPXI-TVJuly 18, 2022 at 6:37 pm EDT
PITTSBURGH — Violent crime in the city of Pittsburgh is surging. To date, there have been 40 homicides in the city alone, and that number is outpacing the entirety of 2019, which saw 39 murders — and there are still several months left in the year.
“Just don’t forget about mine. That’s all I’m asking,” said Donald Hammond, who lost his son to gun violence earlier this year.
Donald Hammond Sr. says on April 16, 2022, his entire life changed when his son Donald Jr. was killed in the city’s Woods Run neighborhood. The Hammond family just one of the many families touched by gun violence this year.
“(The police) said they know who did it, but they don’t have nobody to point him out,” said Hammond.
Hammond said not a day goes by that he does not think of his son, and he yearns for justice for his murder.
In regard to his son’s cold case, Hammond said, “This a warm one; this one is hot. Solve it.”
This year, there have been 40 murders, and community leaders fear that the city is on track to outpace the homicides in 2019, 2020 and even 2021, when the city saw 51 killings.
“Thirty-eight percent of homicides are solved. The rest of it is cold cases,” said Rashad Byrdsong, the CEO of Community Empowerment Association.
Byrdsong, a longtime community activist, said that the city must begin to address gun violence as a public health crisis, and only then will the killings stop.
“We are looking at violence as a disease; the CDC says it’s a disease,” added Byrdsong .
Byrdsong says it is two-fold: Address the underlying social determinants like poverty, healthcare access, and food security and build trust by solving cases.
“That’s why it’s so important that we have all the players come to the table,” said Byrdsong.
Cases like Donald Hammond Jr.’s murder.
“It’s been 92 days. Just solve my son’s murder, please,” asked Hammond.
The Community Empowerment Association will host a community town hall on July 30 to discuss the public health approach they feel is needed to begin healing in the city

Or do criminals just ignore ALL the laws?!?!  And what make & model are these "violent guns"of?!  Local gun shops don't know, but if da' Community Empowerment Association ( a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kamalalala-ding-dong Word Salad, Inc.!!!) knows what brand, make, & caliber these violent guns are - they ain't tellin'!!!!

Mayor Al Sharpton, Jr., off to a great start!!!

Pittsburgh reports 71 homicides in 2022, the highest total in a decade

Quote:PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — This year, Pittsburgh has seen a record-breaking number of homicides.
On Monday, Pittsburgh police responded to the Family Dollar on Brighton Road for a deadly shooting, which marked 71 homicides in the city with two days left in 2022. It is the highest it's been in a decade.
Eight years ago, according to crime data online, there were 70 homicides within the city. And between 2010 and Thursday, there have been 700.
According to the most up-to-date data from police, 60 percent of offenders involved in homicides this year are between 15 and 24 years old. More than 50 percent of victims are within that same age group.
An increase in violence is something Mayor Ed Gainey has been fighting since taking office with his "Pittsburgh Plan for Peace." Gainey also is consistently pushing the public to provide tips in hopes of breaking this vicious cycle.
KDKA-TV reached out to Gainey's office on Thursday to learn what his plan is to reduce the numbers in 2023. In a statement, he said they're counting on police resources to focus on the city's most violent offenders.
Also, based on the 2023 budget, some new public safety measures include a new downtown ambassador program, doubling community violence intervention teams and distributing $1 million in grants to community organizations to help prevent violence.
As for Pittsburgh police, a spokesperson said the department has been collaborating with other partners in the city to work toward solutions to reduce the violence.
With homicides marking a new all-time high in a decade, police say, "These numbers are something we take very seriously. Police work around the clock to investigate these cases. Every case is a priority."  
The full statement from the mayor's office can be found below.

Quote:"Pittsburgh, like many cities across the country, has been experiencing a rise in homicides this past year. Making Pittsburgh the safest city in America has been one of the top priorities of our administration and our police have done an excellent job of apprehending those responsible for these acts of violence in our city. We are also hard at work trying to get ahead of violence to create the lasting peace Pittsburgh deserves.  
"Earlier this year we shared our public health-based approach to violence – the Pittsburgh Plan for Peace. This model is based on utilizing our police resources to focus on our most violent actors while we focus other resources on addressing the root causes of violence in our city.  
"Our budget for next year makes serious investment into non-officer related measures for public safety – some of those include:

• New downtown ambassador program – that is being funded by the City, PDP, and PCCD to provide non-officer support, additional eyes and ears downtown, and to give young people in our city an opportunity for employment in community protection.
  
•  Doubling the size of our Community Violence Intervention teams and distributing $1M in grants to community organizations helping to prevent violence.  
  
• A stronger connection between OCHS and the PBP to ensure that the right people are responding in order to offer interventions and support services to those in crisis.  
  
• Collaboration with PPS on proven and innovative peace-keeping programs to reduce violence in our high schools  
  

"We will also be starting at least 2 new police academy classes and have been working towards a new public safety center downtown – which is slated to open in 2023.  
'Finally, we can't do this alone, and we are working together with community groups, faith leaders, and everyone in our city who wants to help end the violence. It is going to take all of us working together

"Working together" means stamping out the EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVIL gun-totin', Bible-thumpin' Whitey-cracka, Honky-devil Republicans especially, BTW!!

What’s causing all the gun battles in our area?

Quote:PITTSBURGH — It was a sunny afternoon last October and a funeral was taking place in Brighton Heights. A video stream from inside the church shows people ducking for cover as shots pop and once again -- another safe place was gone.
Accused of pulling the triggers are two teenage boys, Shawn Davis and Hezekiah Nixon. But records reveal, as young as they are, this was hardly the first crime they had been accused of.




Take Shawn Davis for instance. A jury convicted him of trying to shoot a store clerk. Fortunately, the gun jammed, but while he was out on bond for that crime, shots were fired inside the Ross Park Mall. Davis was accused of firing a gun inside the mall. A judge dropped the charges, citing an identification issue, despite Davis testing positive for gunshot residue on his hands. Davis spent seven months in jail for the incident with the store clerk and then was supposed to be at home with an ankle monitor on that bright day in October.

As for Nixon, he had previously been charged for firing a gun into a crowd of people. His punishment? As an underage teen, his records are closed, but sources say for the incident, a judge “sentenced” him to an after-school program, making him available to join his friend outside that funeral in Brighton Heights.
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala says when it comes to teen crime here, what happened is all part of a frustrating and frightening pattern.
“The kid that shot at the funeral, hurt people at the funeral, he just came in and came out,” Zappala tells Channel 11. “Somebody released him. Sometimes they go in and go back out 24 hours later.”
In short, Zappala said the police take dangerous kids off the streets and the judges let them right back out because they often have nowhere to put them -- until they do something really horrible. So, what’s going on? It’s called a case of “noble intentions.”
After one too many scandals, the state of Pennsylvania decided to clean up the juvenile justice system. Part of that was cutting funding, resulting in the closing of more than a dozen detention centers across the state. By 2021, that created a 79% reduction in secure detention for teens. In Allegheny County, that number was an almost 90% reduction in detention beds. The closure of the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center eliminated beds, forcing authorities to even send some of them out of state to Steubenville, Ohio.
Jefferson County’s Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr. used to run the Jefferson County Juvenile Detention Center.
“It doesn’t matter where a child is from,” Abdalla tells Channel 11. “Anything we can do to help a child regardless of where they’re from is a good thing.”
If a bed is available in Jefferson County, Ohio, a teen from Allegheny County could be sent there and they don’t see a revolving door of a violent juvenile being released.
“The juvenile judge considers the public and public safety and it’s held in high regard,” Abdalla added. “The judge certainly isn’t going to put a juvenile back in a situation where he feels it will be unsafe for the juvenile and he won’t release juveniles he feels are a threat to go out and do something to harm the public.”
It’s important to note, Jefferson County’s population is about 18% of Allegheny County’s, so there are far fewer juveniles committing crimes. We spoke with Robert Tomassini, who is the executive director of the Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission. He tells Channel 11 that the shortage of detention centers for teens is “a public safety concern” and that with not enough beds, it forces judges to risk releasing an already violent juvenile so they can hold an even more dangerous one.

Clearly, it's libtard satisfaction with the status quo!!!

Mzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz... Al Sharpton reads from the libtard playbopok (for your amusemnt)
Elected by DNC photocopiers (just like Biteme) this 'thing' will probably join the jihad squad there in the Potomac swamps shortly - she already has the talking points memorized!
CONgressthing Mzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz... Al Sharpton shares demtard talking points she believes are causing teenage gun violence in the area

Quote:By Talia Kirkland, WPXI-TV
February 22, 2023 at 9:45 pm EST
NOW PLAYING ABOVE

Congresswoman Summer Lee shares problems she believes are causing teenage gun violence in the area In the past two months, there have been four teens murdered in Allegheny County.

PITTSBURGH — In the past two months, there have been four teens murdered in Allegheny County. In two of those incidents, police said another teen was the one who pulled the trigger. Just last week four students were shot in front of Westinghouse Academy as the school day ended.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> ‘Put these guns down’: 4 students shot outside Westinghouse Academy in Homewood West
With local and school leaders pushing for common sense gun laws, Channel 11 News sat down with Congresswoman Summer Lee to get her to take on this issue and what can be done at a federal level.
“It is not a new issue,” said Lee.
When asked if we have a teen gun violence issue, Lee said yes.
“We have more guns than kids I believe,” she said.
Pittsburgh police said just this year, there have been 12 teenage victims of shootings, some of them were killed. Countywide, four teens have been murdered.
Last month 19-year-old Aceyn Ausbrook was shot and killed leaving a house party in Monroeville. The next day police say 13-year-old Chase Jones was killed by a fellow 13-year-old in Clairton.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> ‘A man of integrity’: Family friend mourning 19-year-old shot, killed in Monroeville
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> 13-year-old arrested for shooting, killing another 13-year-old in Clairton
And in February two teens, 15-year-old Tre’Sean Jackson and 17-year-old Damonte Hardrick, were both killed in the Allentown area on separate occasions. Investigators said Hardrick was also killed by yet another teen.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> 17-year-old boy shot, killed in Carrick identified
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> 15-year-old killed in shooting in city’s Allentown neighborhood
“We know that gun violence is directly correlated with poverty, so where we see those concentrations of blight, school, income, and educational inequality that’s where we are going to see gun violence,” Lee said.
Lee said that to fix the issue of teen gun violence government will need to address the root causes.
“[Families need to] have access to afterschool care, programs where their kids can be enriched, where their kids can go and be safe making sure that their schools are equitable; and then making sure on the backend that they have job opportunities,” she said.
Lee said investing in wrap-around services for students, ensuring affordable housing for families, and providing young people with livable wages is a start, but said it will take a collective effort.
“But that means at every level of government we have to be willing to invest in that, we have to make sure that we are all directing those resources at the same time; otherwise, we are not being honest about it,” Lee said.
On Sunday, Feb. 23 Channel 11 News will have more with Congresswoman Lee addressing other hot topics and her historic new role during the station’s Black History Month special airing at 8:30 a.m.

Making sure criminals get their ass kicked by REAL judges is the way to stop crime, DUMBASS!

And what brand, make & model are these "Teenaged" guns, anyways.  Most of my 1911's & my PTR91 are teenagers now, & they seem well behaved!!!

This'll fix 'em!!!

Greater Pittsburgh Coalition for Wishful Thinking kicks off new initiative to reduce gun violence

Quote:By Pete DeLuca, WPXI-TV
February 23, 2023 at 11:25 pm EST
NOW PLAYING ABOVE

Greater Pittsburgh Coalition Against Violence kicks off new initiative to reduce gun violence

PITTSBURGH — The Greater Pittsburgh Coalition Against Violence kicked off a new initiative Thursday night by bringing together families, religious leaders, police officers and more to share their perspectives and offer ideas to reduce gun violence in the area.
“We’re losing more young people and more women and children. That for me, is like, ‘Okay, we need to stop talking and really start doing to the work,’” said Shayla Holmes, with Coalition Against Violence.
Holmes spearheaded Thursday night’s Community Youth Summit. She plans to lead these gatherings each month.
The meeting coincidentally came on the same day Pittsburgh Police released new data on crime in the city.
Officials report seven out of the ten homicides so far this year have been solved, and 147 guns have been taken off the street.
But for the Coalition Against Violence, their work is just beginning.
The group is assembling a Community Action Team with liaisons in every corner of Allegheny County.
“We want to have at least one person in every community, particularly those that are being most affected by gun violence,” explained Holmes.
Diallo Mitchell, Jr. knows the painful and life-altering effects of gun violence all too well.
He was shot in Greenfield in July of 2013 after being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“I was shot and was paralyzed,” he said. “The bullet was a millimeter away from my main artery.”
Mitchell shared his story with the group Thursday night.
“I always say, it’s not about what you go through, it’s about how you view what you go through,” said Mitchell.
He uses his experience to teach kids every day as a violence prevention specialist at Steel Valley High School in Homestead.
“It’s starting at a younger age now with teens, 13, 14, 15, 16 years old, and they’re getting access to guns and violence. And that’s something we need to change if we want to move forward,” said Mitchell.

Nice to see they're rehabbing those poor misguided guns that have gone astray & returning them as useful pieces of ordnance to GOOD homes!  Wait - whut?!