'Put the guns down!' Boy, 8, calls for end to Chicago violence
CHICAGO -- An 8-year-old boy in Chicago is pleading for people to "put the guns down," following shootings over the 4th of July weekend that killed nine people, including a 7-year-old boy, and injured at least 53 people.
"He didn't even go to second grade. He didn't grow up to be a grown-up," TJ Donald said of Amari Brown, the 7-year-old boy shot to death over the weekend. "People need to learn to put the guns down. Put them down."
Donald is one of about 12,000 Chicago Public School students who are participating in a free Safe Haven summer program, which offers workshops at 120 churches and community centers in the city on positive conflict resolution, anger management and anti-bullying and anti-violence.
"We have to let these kids ... there are some people out there that are concerned, that care," said Margaret Acree with Greater Saint John Bible Church.
Brown was killed by a drive-by shooter at 11:55 p.m. Saturday in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood.
Investigators have said the gunman was aiming for the boy's father, who was identified by authorities as a documented gang member with 45 arrests.
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