Shooting at Union Station becomes latest evidence youth violence is not uncommon to Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Unfortunately, youth violence is not abnormal to the greater Kansas City area. In the past three years there have been 21 suspects in homicides that were under the age of 18.
Both KC Mothers in Charge and Dads Against Crime believe it is an issue that will increase if Kansas City cannot come together and address the violence after the tragic shootings during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade.
Andre Harris began Dads Against Crime in 2021 when LeGend Taliferro, 4, was killed.
“Yesterday tells us that it can be anyone of our kids that can get shot any place, so there’s no ground zero there’s no safe spot,” Harris said. “There’s no safe spot for us to take our kids anymore, because they’re going to do it anywhere, so we got to fix it.”
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Harris believes that begins with addressing the stigma behind therapy.
“How do you know how to talk to somebody who’s full of aggression or full of anger? How do you deal with that person, if they don’t even know how to deal with themselves,” Harris said. “We give free therapy from a licensed therapist, so if anybody knows anyone of those families who child got shot yesterday, we are looking to give all of those children free therapy, and the parents.”
KC Mothers in Charge also offers free therapy. Rosilyn Temple worries that if the violence isn’t addressed Kansas City will break the record for homicides in a single year – that was set just last year.
“It’s not over if we don’t come together and start saying we have had enough,” Temple said.
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Mothers in Charge will be hosting a vigil at noon on Monday for the mother that died during the parade shootings, Lisa Lopez-Galvan. It will take place in their parking lot at 3200 Wayne Ave, KCMO 64109.
“I want to reach out to the Chiefs players and ask for here at KC Mothers in Charge, help us do the work,” Temple said. “We need that for our community.”
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