Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton says efforts to reduce youth violence need to start well before a young person reaches teenage years. The death of a teenager following a shooting at Fayette Mall this past weekend was one of five homicides over the last nine days in Lexington. Four of those victims were teenagers.
During Tuesday’s council work session, Gorton said a disturbing trend nationally is young people shooting with guns. “This is where we’ve got to strike a partnership with our school system and with our entire community and with all the powers that be to come up with some new solutions,” said Gorton.
Council Member James Brown said youth mentorships are often sought as a remedy. He says more attention should go to supporting the entire family structure. “We have got to look at ways how we support these families. A lot of time we just try to focus on the young people and I think that’s a need. But, I think it’s the family structure of these families that need a lot of our support. And it all doesn’t fall on the government. I think everybody plays a role in it,” noted Brown.
Council Member Bill Farmer expressed exasperation saying, quote, “too often somebody winds up dead that should be going to school.” The veteran councilman added, he had no answers but said it was a loss for the community and everyone in it.
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