Bronx community leaders, advocates speak out after week of teen gun violence
Two of those teens have died.
The recent shootings of four teenagers in the Bronx over four days have renewed calls for action from community members and advocates concerned about youth violence.
Two of those teens have died. On Monday, 16-year-old John Nunez was shot to death in Morrisania.
A day later, a 17-year-old was shot in Wakefield.
On Wednesday, 15-year-old Riley Billingslea was killed in Kingsbridge Heights.
On Friday, another 17-year-old was shot twice and remains in critical condition.
When News 12 reached out to the NYPD for comment regarding the recent string of teen shootings, they referred to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch's announcement earlier this week highlighting the seizure of more than 3,000 illegal firearms citywide.
Of those, 782 were recovered in the Bronx.
Advocates stress that intervention and outreach are critical to reaching young people before another life is lost to gun violence.
Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence (BRAG) is one of several community-based programs working to prevent gun violence and connect young people with support.
David Caba, leader of BRAG, says that shared community experience helps outreach workers build trust with young people.
"We're from the same neighborhood, the same community, the same block," Caba says. "They know our histories and they will listen to us."
Caba also says community members must meet young people where they are, providing support and resources tailored to their needs.
"You have to be willing to continue to change them as the times change, because the young people of the day are not the same as the young people of yesterday," says Caba.
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