Community leaders are calling for action to address the number of shootings in Youngstown and Warren since the beginning of this year, with some expressing concern about what the cities may face this summer.

Warren police are investigating a shooting on Friday in which one person, Kammie Linn Kiser, 19, of Garrettsville, received a fatal gunshot wound, and two others, Davonte Rasean McElroy, 260 Austin Ave. NW, and Trevon Allen, 18, 628 Olive St. NE, were wounded.

The Mahoning County Coroner’s Office, meanwhile, is working to identify the victim of fatal Sunday shooting in Youngstown, the seventh homicide in the city this year.

In the Warren case, Kiser was found in the parking lot of 473 Maryland St. NW, according to a police report. Kiser and the two other victims were found by police after they went to investigate a report of shots being fired.

In Youngstown, police are investigating the death of a 42-year-old found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in his apartment in the 2400 block of Shirley Road.

MORE MARCHES

The Rev. Kenneth Simon, pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church, said the series of marches and rallies last summer and fall in various neighborhoods in Youngstown are expected to continue.

The United Pastors, Clergy and Community Leaders of Greater Youngstown Against the Violence will kick off its “Stop the Violence” effort for 2022 with a prayer rally 1 p.m. Saturday, Simon noted.

Supporters will gather at Market Street and Avondale Avenue at 12:30 p.m., where they will be praying for peace for the city, and against the violence that has plagued the neighborhoods.

“We kicked off this series of rallies last June and continued them throughout the summer and into the fall,” Simon explained. “We expect to continue them this year.”

Although violent acts have continued in the city, Simon and other leaders of the movement said they have been assured by Youngstown police Chief Carl Davis that their efforts have helped to lower the number of shootings.

“We targeted the areas where the most violence was taking place,” Simon said. “We’ve had people sign up to be mentors to young people, to act as mediators, and placed ‘Stop the Violence’ yard signs throughout the neighborhoods.”

Clergy are putting together a strategy for this year to increase the engagement of community members, he noted.

“We can’t save everybody,” Simon said. “However, we must do what we can. There must be an effort to get violence under control. It cannot be normalized.”

A PLAN

Warren Councilwoman Helen Rucker, D-at Large, said a community plan is needed to address violence going forward.

“The plan must involve the administration, council, the city police, community organizations, residents and, most importantly, parents,” she said. “Look at the ages of the people that have been involved in these shootings. We have kids carrying guns. We have kids getting shot, wounded and killed.”

While she appreciates the work being done in Youngstown, Rucker does not believe having marches and community rallies is enough to address the violent acts.

“I’m all in for marches,” she said. “I’ve been in more than 100 of them. We need dialogue in the schools and dialogue with parents. When something is going on in homes, people have to be aware of where they can reach out to get help. They need to know who may be able to help them.”

Solutions, Rucker notes, cannot be located in one area or one group.

“People need to feel safe enough to discuss whatever issue they are facing,” she noted.

Councilman Todd Johnson, D-1st Ward, said the level of violence in Warren has not risen to the level where marches, similar to what has been occurring in Youngstown, are necessary.

“We hope we can have a safe summer,” Johnson said. “We have to remain vigilant.”

rsmith@tribtoday.com