DAYTON — City leaders are renewing their efforts to stop gun violence after a deadly shooting in Dayton.
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As reported on News Center 7 at 6 and 11, Felons with a Future, a non-profit organization working with Dayton’s Violence Interruption Program, said it had been over 180 days since a gun-related death in North Riverdale.
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A person was killed after a shooting in the 1900 block of Riverside Drive just before midnight on Friday, as previously reported.
Community leaders told News Center 7’s Ava Petrosky that they are bittersweet. They are sad that someone in their community died and disappointed that their 183-day streak is over.
They are still celebrating a milestone that they said once seemed impossible.
“A grandchild of mine, I found, was incarcerated for trying to get some drugs in the mail,” said Greg West, CEO of Felons with a Future. “I said, ‘How did I get to this place? And how can I stay out of places like this?’”
The organization works with Dayton’s Violence Interruption Program.
On Saturday, they focused on community building and re-entry to lower gun violence in North Riverdale. They had giveaways, handed out free clothes, and had a cookout.
“For us to go 183 days without a homicide and 89 days without any gun violence, that means a lot,” said West.
They must restart the safety clock after Friday’s deadly shooting.
“Somebody’s been shot,” a 911 caller told dispatchers.
“Where at?” the dispatcher asked.
“Somebody’s been shot here,” the caller answered. “It was at his head.”
Dayton officers found a man dead on Riverside Drive. Officers are still investigating.
“Anytime that I hear about any homicides in our city, I’m like, you know, like I said, my heart goes out to the family first,” said West. “It just kind of hit differently, you know, because it was in our zone.”
Despite that, Felons with Future says that they still have a lot to be proud of.
“We’re still here to celebrate the milestone that we’ve already done a lot of canvassing,” said Curtis Johnson, program director. “We’re actually working on stopping the retaliation of what actually transpired last night as well.”
Organizers say that the next time they celebrate a milestone, it will be longer than
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