With violence plaguing Jacksonville, community leaders are stepping up to encourage people to put down their guns.
It comes after seven shootings, that left four dead over Presidents Day weekend.
STORY: Violent weekend in Jacksonville: 6 separate shootings
Pastors and youth say the violence in Jacksonville stems from a lack of understanding.
Davin Brown grew up facing the harsh reality of some of Jacksonville’s violent ZIP codes, losing his first friend to violence at just 14.
“Nobody from the hood gonna tell you, you gonna be a dentist or a doctor,” Brown said.
“Nobody from the hood gonna tell you, you gonna be a dentist or a doctor.” - Davin lost his first friend to violence at only 14. He hasn’t let the “You can’t “ mentality get to him, and is choosing hope. His viewpoint on #Jacksonville Crime at 5:30 on @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/zYwC4I5vgU
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) February 18, 2019
Brown found hope, but says youth lack role models, and need a better mindset, something Pastor John Guns agrees with.
“Helping to develop a mindset where life is more important than death. There is a subculture of young men who don’t see themselves living beyond 18 or 21," Guns said.
"There's a subculture of young men who don’t see themselves living beyond 18 or 21. "-Local Pastor Moms, pastors, youth, the community wants change, their reaction to this weekends violence.@ActionNewsJax at 5:30
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) February 18, 2019
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office murder data page, there have been 21 murders in 2019. Seven have been cleared through arrest or suspect death.
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According to the FDLE, the clearance rate — which refers to the percentage of crimes solved by police— was 17.1 percent in Duval County between January and June of 2018.
Orange County’s clearance rate sits at 22.4 percent, and Miami-Dade at 16.2 percent.
Duval County's is the second-worst county in the state when it comes to solving crimes. In 2018, funding was added for 180 new JSO officers.
New technology like shot spotter is helping JSO track down gunfire in real time, and the city council is considering a plan to spend close to $3.5 million to upgrade and replace security cameras and related systems at city buildings.
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STORY: Deadly double shooting on Jacksonville's westside
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