ST. LOUIS, Missouri (First Alert 4) – As summer draws to a close for St. Louis youth, violence statistics for the fall show positive trends.
But there is still a lot to do.
“I feel good, I think we did a pretty good job,” Lisa LaGrone said.
There was real fear in LaGrone and the organization Safe Streets Safe Neighborhoods at the beginning of the summer, with concerns that there were not enough structures in place in the community to provide children and young adults with alternatives to violence.
However, she said she and other activists had made a coordinated effort to lower temperatures in the harsher neighborhoods just as the summer heat set in.
“We had to go to some older people in the neighborhood who used to be in that category and negotiate some truces,” LaGrone said.
According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police, there have been 104 murders this year, three fewer than this time last year and significantly fewer than the 133 murders expected by this time in 2022.
Statistics from mid-August show that both grand thefts and auto thefts are down from last year. But the number of shootings of adults and juveniles is slightly higher than during the same period last year, including a high-profile incident on July 4 in which a total of seven people were shot.
Although the number of murders has decreased, more than 100 people have lost their lives due to the violence in the city, which is a great burden for many families.
“Now they have no father, they only have me,” said Chante Bass, whose 35-year-old son was killed in May.
This summer, the city doubled down on its efforts to provide alternatives for children – which LaGrone says has helped tremendously.
“They knew they were not allowed to take their weapons with them once they entered these secure environments,” LaGrone said.
Others in the city told First Alert 4 on Monday that they agreed with that approach.
First Alert 4 also met with two DJs from local iHeartMedia radio stations, including DJ Cuddy Montana, who shares this approach to youth, saying there are no more arcades and ice rinks for kids to hang out at.
“Doing something for the youth will definitely help, they can be themselves,” said DJ Cuddy.
His colleague, DJ Big Al, hopes parents will continue to remain vigilant as summer turns to fall.
“If your child has friends, find out who the child’s parents are,” said DJ Big Al.
LaGrone said they must continue to be consistent.
“We have to keep going and pursue our goals,” LaGrone said.
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