Community meets to come up with solutions for crime prevention

Police have the guns used in a triple shooting in Homewood, but no suspects in custody.

Three men were shot early Thursday morning at Betts Market on Brushton Avenue.

At last check, two of them remain in critical condition.

It's been a violent week in and around Pittsburgh.

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Community leaders gathered Thursday night to come up with solutions to solve the problem.

Pittsburgh's police chief told the group if they want change, it has to happen with all of them working together.

"My son was a homicide victim in Penn Hills: Nov. 13, 2013," said parent Winona Hawkins Harper.

"My son was also murdered, 2014. His name was Jose Davis," added parent Connie Moore.

"Dec. 20, 2016, my friend was killed," Dan Garland Jr. said, another friend or parent who shared stories of families crushed by the loss of loved ones to violence.

"This senseless violence will never end until the community itself steps up and do the right thing, even to the point of turning in your own family members," said community organizer Valerie Dixon.

Advocates, community leaders and Pittsburgh police came together in the Hill District for a Community Response to End Violence.

"We are failing this thing," Harper said. "Can't nobody stand here today and tell me you doing enough to save this bad life out here."

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Three people have been shot and killed since Saturday in Pittsburgh and surrounding neighborhoods.

Jerame Turner was only 16 years old, Augustus Gray only 14.

There have been no arrests in those killings nor in several others.

Police said they are looking into gang activity and drugs as possible motives.

"See our children getting shot, getting killed, it is, it is unacceptable," said Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert. "But that change has to start here with all of us."

Some speaking at the meeting said there's still not enough being done to protect witnesses to keep them safe.

Cox Media Group