Ennis Tait, the pastor of New Beginnings Church, urged measures to be taken to address the problem of violence among young people.
According to WCPO, Tait emphasized the need for creating additional safe spaces where teenagers can gather and feel secure, as this can help to combat youth violence.
He pointed out that many public places, such as libraries, often eject disruptive youth, making it vital to establish designated areas where they can express themselves without fear of expulsion.
Shootings
Tait's plea for action is consistent with the recent incident involving the shooting of a 17-year-old pupil from Woodward High School.
The school's principal, Micheal Workman, stated that the victim was not on school premises when the shooting took place and had returned to the school seeking assistance.
In response, school staff immediately notified emergency services and initiated a precautionary lockdown, which delayed dismissal.
According to the Cincinnati Police Department, the shooting occurred outside the Glen Meadow Apartments in Bond Hill.
The victim sustained severe injuries, prompting his admission to UC Medical Center.
This shooting marks the fifth time within a week that someone under 18 years old has been shot in Cincinnati.
A 16-year-old boy who was a Taft High School student was also shot in Westwood, resulting in his passing.
The district informed parents through a letter that Spikes had died as a result of irrational gun violence.
Tait noted that the recent gun violence is taking a severe toll on the young people in the area.
He stated that when one young person gets shot, it impacts not only them but also many others, sometimes as many as 20, 30, or 40 individuals.
Tait, who mentors a group of approximately 18 teenagers, was scheduled to meet with them, but he received news that one of the students had been shot.
He said that the incident weighed heavily on everyone that day.
Additionally, the day before, the group had gathered to commemorate the life of another friend who had been killed in Avondale, so their spirits were already low.
Tait commented that the incident illustrates how genuine the problem is.
Safe Place for Youth
In response to the recent shooting, Youth At The Center, an organization committed to providing safe spaces for young people, is taking action.
Co-founder Tynisha Worthy emphasized the importance of youth voices.
Worthy stated that the organization is striving to create a secure and nurturing environment where young people can learn, grow, and thrive.
According to her, the issue of youth gun violence in the city is not just surface-level but also related to deeper concerns such as poverty and neighborhood conditions.
She added that several contributing factors are often overlooked, and rather than just blaming young people, it is vital to address the systemic conditions that impact their daily lives.
Worthy stressed that adults with power and influence must work to improve the living conditions of young people, enabling them to have a different reality.
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