Roanoke residents feel unsafe to even go to a store as a result of growing number of shooting incidents in the area
ROANOKE, Virginia – After the recent shootings in Roanoke, city leaders are asking residents for help and ideas.
Groups like RESET are going to neighborhoods where shootings happen and asking people what can be done to make them feel safer. One member of the group said that RESET will walk up to houses, knock on doors, and try to fix relationships that have been hurt by gun violence.
William Dungee said, “It will take a group of people to get everything back.” “I never thought there would be a time when people wouldn’t feel safe going to a store.”
A year ago, Dungee’s own son was killed by a gun. Now, he works with RESET as a mentor to help kids get off the streets.
Dungee said, “No parent should ever have to get a call that their child has been shot.” “We need people to start caring about each other again. We need them to give us their word.”
RESET is one of the groups in Roanoke City that is working with other groups to find long-term ways to stop gun violence. Even though the numbers keep going up, the head of the commission to stop gun violence said that progress is being made.
Joe Cobb said, “It doesn’t show up as quickly in the numbers, but it does show up in the way people see themselves and move through the world.”
Cobb said that leaders are trying to keep violent acts from happening by working with schools.
Cobb said, “We’re realizing that a lot of these violent acts start at a younger age.” “We have to use social and emotional learning to give kids what they need.”
Residents told RESET members on a Wednesday that some ways to feel safer are to put up more street lights and find out why there is more gun violence.
Dungee said, “We’re going in the right direction, but we need the help of the community.” “That’s the only way we can make ourselves safe again.”
People in the community are encouraged to get involved with RESET by becoming mentors for kids or going on neighborhood walks like the one on Wednesday.
In the first two months of 2023, there have been nine shootings in Roanoke City.
