Rocky Mount hopes community events help mitigate gun violence
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (WTVD) -- Fridays in Rocky Mount are for the "Summer Night Lights Series," and many people agree. Food, games, and music allow for people of all ages to find joy at Buck Leonard Park.
"It feels, it feels fantastic," said Shawn Elliott. "It's beautiful out here, and at the end of the day, it's about getting to know each other, making connections with our neighbor," said Alesha Braswell.
The event is a safe space on the heels of several traumatic events.
Rocky Mount Police said the most recent violent incident happened Thursday night when a man was shot in the jaw on Russell Street. Hours before that, 58-year-old Jaime De La Fuente, who is the father of a Rocky Mount police officer, was shot and killed at Sunset Park. Police said the shooter ran to a nearby restaurant, attempted to steal a car with a mother and her child inside, before shooting and seriously hurting himself.
Someone dies of gun violence is a lot of lives lost, not just a person who died.Pastor James Gilliard
On July 13, two young people were killed near MLK Park. In that case, five people have been arrested so far. On that same day, another man was shot on West Raleigh Boulevard. On the day before that, a 29-year-old man was grazed after shots were fired in the parking lot of Buffalo Wild Wings. People in the community said they realize that violence affects everyone.
"I hear the shots. I live in this community, so it's really heartbreaking to see these things happen," said Elliott.
People believe there are solutions, such as a $300,000 grant from the Governor's Crime Commission awarded to Rocky Mount.
"Someone dies of gun violence is a lot of lives lost, not just a person who died. Nine times out of 10, a person (who) did the shooting going to get caught. So then their life is, for all practical purposes, over, and then if they've got children or parents, it affects that generation. And so, like one death could affect three or four generations," said Pastor James Gilliard.
There are two crime-prevention events already in the works.
This Sunday, North Carolinians Against Gun Violence will meet at the Word Tabernacle Church for a conversation around gun violence from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Then, on Aug. 5, there is National Night Out presented by the Rocky Mount Police Department --- another chance to engage people and to build connections and share experiences.
