City leaders, activists working towards solutions to protect children against gun violence

Local activist Roshanda Jackson says the gun violence in some of Jacksonville’s poorest neighborhoods are at crisis levels.

“It's not a secret we are in a crisis if I had the power I would call a state of an emergency,” said Jackson.

Nineteen children have been shot in Jacksonville so far this year, four of them died.

The most recent killing happened Saturday when 7-year-old Heydi Rivas Villanueva was killed during a shootout in Jacksonville Heights.

The memorial for her continues to grow as JSO searches for the third and final suspect in her killing.

Related: Here's a breakdown of the 19 children shot in Jacksonville in 2018

“It shouldn't take the death of a 7-year-old, again, to remind us of the crime that is blazing in Jacksonville, Florida especially in those harder hit communities such as 32210, 32209, 32208,” said Jackson.

Those are just some of the Jacksonville zip codes that stood out in a UF Health study that looked at child shooting victims geographically.

Action News Jax showed you back in February how the data pointed to most of the victims coming from the same neighborhoods for 20 years straight.

“We know what’s going on and we know where it’s happening it’s happening in the minority communities,” said Jackson.

We took the issue to at-large councilman John Crescimbeni who said the city is well aware.

“It’s inexcusable but nevertheless it appears to be happening more frequently than anybody wants it to,” said Crescimbeni.

Crescimbeni said there’s no one-size fits all solution.

The Kids Hope Alliance is one approach the city has tried, Crescimbeni said it’ll take time to see its benefit but it’s a start.

STORY: Councilman talks about crime prevention following shooting

“We have to make a commitment to sustain that program for almost a generation,” said Crescimbeni.

The local medical community is joining the effort to repeal a federal amendment that blocks the centers for disease control from using federal money to research gun violence.

Jackson said she’d like to see more funding for non-profits already in the trenches trying to do a lot with very little.

“You can give them the sense of educational tool that they need in order to strengthen themselves so that they can go out and strengthen the community,” said Jackson.

Cox Media Group